Witnesses sought to Purley double fatal collision with house-to-house enquiries
IPCC investigators will be in Purley today (Thursday) and also this evening, carrying out house-to-house enquiries
Last Thursday at 9pm, two cyclists, Reading Borough Council workers, 30-year-old father of two John Morland, of Elvaston Way, Tilehurst, and father of five, Kris Jarvis, aged 39, of Brocksett Close, Reading died following a collision with a BMW car on the A329.
Thames Valley Police (TVP) referred the matter to the IPCC, after officers in a marked police 4x4 in Pangbourne noticed the black BMW in connection with an incident reported earlier.
The IPCC’s independent investigation is examining how police responded in the short time period of less than two minutes between the sighting of the BMW and the fatal collision.
The investigation will consider whether police actions had any effect on the events that followed.
IPCC Associate Commissioner, Guido Liguori said: "I would like to offer my condolences to the families of the two men at this very difficult time. As police officers were in the vicinity and sighted the BMW very shortly before the collision, we will be investigating how the police responded to the sighting and whether their actions had any effect on the events that followed. I would urge anyone who saw anything that may assist with our investigation to come forward.”
The IPCC is keen to speak to anyone who witnessed events on the A329 between Pangbourne, in the area of the police station and Texaco garage, and Purley-on-Thames close to the junction of Purley Rise and Westbury Lane where the collision occurred.
IPCC investigators will be in the Purley Rise and Pangbourne areas this evening, (Thursday) carrying out house-to-house enquiries and appealing for witnesses.
Anyone with information should contact the IPCC investigation team on freephone 0800-096-9071 ,or email:
A Purley man has been charged with causing the death of the cyclists by dangerous driving.
Alexander Farrar Walters, aged 31, from Beech Road, who also faces one charge of aggravated vehicle taking, one charge of driving while disqualified, and one count of using a vehicle without insurance, appeared before Reading magistrates on Monday.
He was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Reading Crown Court on March 3.
