Police Name Death Crash Taxi Driver By Alex Thompson

A taxi driver who died today after his vehicle was hit by a car being tracked by police has been named.

Martin Geoffrey Owen, from Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, was one of two drivers killed in a head-on collision which happened as officers followed a stolen car in Staffordshire.

The 44-year-old, of Fairfax Road, was behind the wheel of a red Ford Mondeo on the A5127 at Shenstone, near Lichfield, when he was hit by a Toyota Celica.

Mr Owen was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota, who has not been named, died soon after his arrival at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield.

Two police vehicles were following the Toyota and a silver Renault Laguna which Staffordshire Constabulary said had been reported stolen from Yoxall, near Kings Bromley, 30 minutes before.

The Laguna driver, a 16-year-old male from the West Midlands, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of stealing the vehicle and was helping police with their inquiries at Lichfield police station.

A force spokesman said: “Two police vehicles were following the Laguna, which was joined by a Toyota Celica, the ownership of which police are making inquiries about.

“The Celica collided with a Ford Mondeo taxi travelling in the opposite direction and the Laguna was in collision with an LDV panel van.”

He later added: “Police believe the Laguna and Celica were travelling together and were frequently overtaking each other.

“A single-crewed Omega marked police vehicle was following the Laguna which had been reported stolen.

“A second Omega police vehicle with two police officers then came to assist.”

The incident, which happened shortly before 4am, was voluntarily referred to the Police Complaints Authority