AN inquest into the tragic deaths of three people in the horror M606 crash has been further suspended.
During a brief hearing at Bradford Coroners’ Court this morning, senior coroner Martin Fleming sought updates from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and West Yorkshire Police.
Taxi driver Sohail Ali, 28, and his passenger Simon McHugh, 49, were killed on June 13 this year, when they were hit head-on by a stolen Ford Transit Van being driven by Jack Simpson.
He was only 15 at the time and on the wrong side of the motorway.
Mr Ali and Mr McHugh were pronounced dead at the scene, while 18-year-old Kyden Leadbeater, a passenger in the van, died in hospital the following day.
Simpson pleaded guilty to three charges of causing death by dangerous driving and one charge of dangerous driving on the same date.
He was sentenced to six years’ detention. This was challenged under the unduly lenient scheme, but it was confirmed last week that the sentence would not be increased.
In a hearing today, Mr Fleming described the case as a “very complex investigation” and said the IOPC is still in the process of making enquiries. Several lines of inquiry are still outstanding, he added.
A report from police is also awaited as to whether there will be any further criminal proceedings.
Mr Fleming suspended the inquest until November 29 and asked for updates to be provided no later than November 22.
Last month, the IOPC told the Telegraph & Argus: “ Our deepest sympathies remain with all those affected by this fatal road collision, which led to three people sadly dying.
“We started our investigation on June 14 and are looking into the police pursuit of a Ford Transit van prior to the collision with a taxi after the van entered the M606 on the wrong side of the carriageway.
“The incident happened near the Chain Bar roundabout, Bradford, at around 10.45pm on Monday, June 13, after the van came to the attention of a police officer on patrol in a police car.
"The focus of our investigation is on the short police pursuit of the transit van before the police driver lost sight of the transit van driving the wrong way round the roundabout.”
The spokesperson added: “Our investigation is currently nearing completion and we have gathered a number of statements from WYP officers and reviewed body-worn video and dashcam footage.
“The officer involved in the pursuit is being treated as a witness.”
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