Forensic vehicle is involved in fatal crash, with man and woman killed in Shropshire: Incident is referred to police conduct office

A man and woman were killed and two others have been injured in a car crash involving a police forensic vehicle. 

The crime scene investigation vehicle collided with a Skoda Octavia at 10.15am today on the A458 between Much Wenlock and Bridgnorth.

The driver of the Skoda - who was a man in his sixties - and a female passenger in her fifties, were pronounced dead at the scene 45 minutes later. 

 A third passenger, a woman in her twenties, suffered minor injuries.

The driver of the police vehicle suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. 

West Mercia Police said the CSI vehicle was not responding to an emergency at the time of the smash. 

The force has alerted its Professional Standards Department and the incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Chief Superintendent Gareth Morris, of West Mercia Police said: 'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man and woman following this awful incident, and our staff member who has been seriously hurt, at this difficult time. 

'We ask that their privacy is respected. I would also like to reassure the public that we have referred the incident to the IOPC.'

Anyone with information or dash-cam footage of the incident should report it to West Mercia Police or Crimestoppers, quoting reference number 166i of Saturday 9 December.