Carnage on A20 (From Stourbridge News)

Carnage on A20

9:57am Thursday 30th August 2001

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A HIGH-SPEED police chase through Swanley ended with the deaths of four people.

A Vauxhall Carlton carrying three people believed to have been involved in a burglary in Oxted, Surrey, was being chased by police up the wrong way of the A20 between Crittalls Corner and Junction One of the M20 when it hit a Vauxhall Vectra coming the other way.

The driver of the Vectra was also killed in the crash. At the time of going to press, police were still waiting for the man's body to be officially identified.

The incident happened just before 2.30am last Friday morning after police disturbed three people breaking into a branch of Boots in Oxted.

The three got into the Carlton and drove off at high-speed into Kent with police in pursuit. Officers were on the scene within minutes of the crash and the A20 was shut for several hours while units from accident investigation teams sifted through the wreckage.

A police spokesman said: “It will be a long time before we will be able to identify the bodies of the people in the car being pursued.”

Kent Assistant Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle said: “We are dealing with a scene of incredible devastation and carnage in which an innocent person has died.”

Both Surrey and Kent Police forces have agreed to allow the independent Police Complaints Authority (PCA) to supervise the investigation.

The Carlton had last been taxed in Shoreditch, east London. The previous owner, who lives in Eltham, confirmed he thought it had been scrapped.

If you know anything about the car, or witnessed the incident, call Kent Police on 01622 654321 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

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