Family speaks out over David's death
Published Date:
20 August 2008
The family of a motorcyclist who crashed after a high-speed police chase ended said lessons have to be learned from his death.
Relatives of David Dimelow, 20, of Shevington, spoke out after officers were cleared of any blame for the incident on June 3 2006.
His relatives believe police should not have been chasing him in the first place.
They also claim that while officers had been stood down a distance before the crash in Orrell, Mr Dimelow thought he was still being pursued and that was the reason he lost control of the bike.
But an Independent Police Complaints Commission report has ruled the patrols who gave chase cannot be held accountable for the collision after Mr Dimelow fled the scene of a suspected crime in St Helens.
Traffic police from Merseyside gave chase but were then called off as the former Shevington High School pupil drove at speeds of up to 70mph through Billinge.
It is believed he was heading towards his family home in Gathurst Lane.
Over the drink-drive limit and still driving at speed, he lost control at Orrell Post and was fatally injured in a collision on Gathurst Road.
A Wigan police car had been parked close to the junction with its emergency lights activated, but was not involved in the pursuit.
The IPCC findings were reported at the conclusion of a three-day inquest at Bootle Town Hall.
Christopher Sumner, the coroner for Merseyside, recorded a narrative verdict citing the cause of death as multiple injuries and saying excess alcohol and speed were contributing factors.
Mr Dimelow was chased after police were called to a suspected break-in at the Duke of Cambridge pub in Duke Street, St Helens.
He had been living in a flat above the pub but left on his motorcycle as officers arrived.
His girlfriend Lauren Brown who said they had had a row and he had later broken into their flat in the small hours because she had the keys.
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The full article contains 344 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper.
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Last Updated:
20 August 2008 9:47 AM
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Source:
Wigan Evening Post
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Location:
Wigan