A woman has been killed after she was struck by a car which was being chased by Police in Copthorne, Sussex
The 70-year-old woman pedestrian who died has been named as Joanna Hakesley, of Bramble Close, Copthorne.
She died at the Royal London Hospital after being airlifted from the scene of the collision, which happened in Church Lane, Copthorne, at about 11.30am yesterday (October 28).
The driver of the stolen red Mazda 323, which collided with her, is still being actively sought.
DCI Trevor Bowles, from the Major Crime Branch, is leading the investigation into the incident.
He said: “It is tragic that Joanna Hakesley has died following this incident. She had been hit by the stolen Mazda as she walked on the pavement in Church Lane.”
This happened soon after the Mazda had been in collision with a police car, which left red paint from the Mazda on the police car.
A stolen car – a red Mazda 323 – had been sighted in Crawley. There was a short pursuit but in moments police withdrew, whilst the police helicopter continued to track the car to Copthorne. The Mazda was seen parked in Church Lane and police vehicles were deployed to the immediate area.
The driver then drove off and his car and a police car were in collision. Shortly after this collision the Mazda struck and killed the elderly pedestrian. It failed to stop. The police officers immediately went to the aid of the woman whilst the helicopter continued to track the Mazda, losing sight of it in woodland. Shortly afterwards members of the public reported a car being abandoned near the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport, where the driver ran off and escaped.
DCI Trevor Bowles said: “This is truly appalling incident where a 70-year-old woman, who lived in the immediate area, was walking on a pavement and was struck from behind by a car, deliberately evading capture.
“The driver of that car has shown no regard for the value of human life and I appeal to the communities of north Sussex and Surrey to tell me who this person is. The car was abandoned under the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport and we are in the early stages of detailed examination of the vehicle and of the widespread CCTV systems within the airport itself. There is no suggestion that the driver has left the country.
“We have a large Major Crime Branch team working on this enquiry in order to trace this man. This includes resources from Surrey Police and officers from across Sussex. It is imperative that this man is caught. He is described as white, wearing a grey round necked, short-sleeved top with dark or black trousers, possibly jeans. I believe him to be in his early to late 20s with short black curly hair.
“I am aware that this car whilst stolen was involved in the theft of petrol from a garage near to Copthorne the day before the collision (October 27) and this is an active line of enquiry.
“At the moment we do not know where the driver of the car is. I am appealing to members of the public who may know about the theft of the car to come forward. The car was stolen from outside a house in Woodside Way, Salfords, near Redhill, before 11pm on Saturday. Did you see it being stolen? Do you know where it has been since and who has been driving it?
“I am also appealing to anyone who saw the collision in Copthorne and to those who saw the man abandon the car at Gatwick Airport.