AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a member of the public was badly injured in during a police pursuit.

An off-duty police car from Thames Valley was chasing a suspected stolen car on the village when a collision took place.

The accident happened last Tuesday afternoon at Moorhall Road, Harefield shortly after 1.15pm.

The unmarked police car collided with a van, injuring a member of the public. Two police officers were also admitted to hospital for treatment.

All three emergency services attended, and the injured party in the van had to be freed from his vehicle by the Fire Brigade.

After being freed by firefighters he was treated for a broken collarbone.

Now a police enquiry has been opened to ascertain the circumstances of the accident and assess whether or not the officers drove dangerously and should have avoided the collision.

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: "An unmarked Thames Valley Police vehicle was in collision with a Toyota panel van in Moorhall Road, at about 1.15pm.

"The police car was responding to an immediate call after an ANPR camera was activated by a car which had been reported as stolen. Two police officers suffered minor injuries and attended Wexham Park Hospital for treatment.

"The driver of the van, which was unconnected to the ANPR activation. was taken to Hillingdon Hospital after suffering a broken collar bone.

"An investigation into the incident has been launched by Thames Valley Police’s Roads Policing Department."

A customer at the nearby Horse and Barge pub, in Moorhall Road, who asked not to be named, witnessed the aftermath of the incident. He said: "All the services were down here, they had to use specialist equipment to free the man from the car.

"The road was blocked off for a couple of hours, the police car had spun right round from the way it had been facing."

Police did not confirm if the stolen car they had been chasing had later been recovered.

- Do you know the victim? Get in touch- call the newsdesk on 01895451000.