A 41-year-old man has died after his car crashed into a tree following a police pursuit in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. Officers were alerted after spotting a grey Audi being driven without lights on in High Street South, and the vehicle failed to stop, prompting a chase along the A5183 towards Markyate before the fatal crash occurred minutes later. The incident is significant as it has triggered an automatic referral to the police watchdog, in line with standard procedure whenever a death follows police contact.

The chase began at around 10.30pm on Saturday, and no other vehicles were involved in the collision. Police administered first aid at the scene and were later joined by other emergency services, but the driver was pronounced dead shortly before 11.30pm. Bedfordshire Police has referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which has launched an investigation, while a stretch of the A5 was cordoned off between Kensworth Turn and Caddington during the emergency response. The man's next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.