TWO teenage boys were taken to hospital after the stolen motor scooter they were riding crashed in Downend while being pursued by police.
The Honda X-ADV 750cc maxi-scooter collided with a Toyota car at the double mini-roundabout junction of Overndale Road, Croomes Hill and Frenchay Road, at 12.43pm on New Year’s Day.
The scooter, which had been stolen from Whitehall in Bristol three weeks previously, was spotted five minutes before the crash by a police officer in a marked car, who followed them after they failed to stop.
Police are still investigating the incident and no charges had been brought as the Voice went to print.
A professional standards probe into the actions of the police officer involved in the pursuit has already been carried out, with no further action being taken.
An Avon & Somerset police spokesperson said: “An officer in a marked police vehicle began a pursuit after sighting a suspected stolen Honda 750 maxi scooter at approximately 12.38pm on New Year’s Day.
“The maxi scooter, which had two people onboard, failed to stop and was subsequently involved in a collision with a Toyota travelling in the opposite direction at the junction of Overdale Road and Frenchay Road.
“The two people onboard the maxi scooter were identified at the scene as boys aged 16 and 17.
“They were taken to hospital for treatment, and both were discharged within 24 hours.
“Our Professional Standards Department was notified of the incident on New Year’s Day.
“A mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct was subsequently made, due to the nature of the injury sustained by one of the teenagers.
“The IOPC returned this to Avon and Somerset Police to deal with, as the force deemed appropriate.
“The incident has been reviewed by our PSD, who identified no issues with how or why the pursuit had taken place. Therefore, no further action will be taken.
“The officer and the boys’ families have been updated.
“Enquiries into the theft and the manner in which the maxi scooter was being ridden prior to the collision are ongoing.”
Overndale Road was shut for several hours after the collision, as an examination of the scene took place, and Croomes Hill and Frenchay Road were also closed to cars and pedestrians at the approach to the junction.
A Mangotsfield resident who was undertaken by the bike on the Bromley Heath roundabout shortly before the crash told the Voice of her experience.
She said: “A moped squashed in between my vehicle and the kerb.
“How they didn’t hit me or fall off, I have no idea.
“A police car followed in close pursuit with its blue lights on. The moped weaved across the road near the lights by Quakers Road, as if they were pretending to turn right, then carried on towards Downend.
“They certainly were acting like they were determined not to be caught.”
The scooter’s owner, who asked not to be named, said the £14,000 scooter was his livelihood as a specialist courier, and was written off in the crash.
It was stolen outside his home in broad daylight and later offered for sale on Instagram.
He said that between the theft of the scooter and the collision there had been several sightings, including in Broomhill and Kingswood, and he had been sent a notice of intended prosecution after it triggered a speed camera in Pensford.
Police have called on anyone who saw the pursuit or has any other information about the incident to call 101 and quote the incident reference number 5226 000 448.