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Man dies after car chase ends in horror crash
A chase led to a fatal car crash in Lancashire which left a man dead and another fighting for his life.
Police say that 31-year-old Damian Ryan from Bamber Bridge, had been followed by another car moments before the smash which killed him and seriously injured another driver.
A 38-year-old man from Fulwood remains in intensive care at Royal Preston Hospital following the smash in Grimsargh on Sunday.
Mr Ryan was at the wheel of a blue Ford Focus when he collided head-on with a Subaru Impreza travelling in the opposite direction on Preston Road at around 7.25pm. Moments before, a driver of a black Ford Focus had followed him after a minor collision.
The 48-year-old driver of that car, from Longridge, has since been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
A Lancashire Police spokesman said: "Minutes before the collision, the blue Ford Focus had been in a minor collision with a black Ford Focus, clipping its wing mirror outside the Old Oak public house in Longridge.
"The blue Ford Focus failed to stop and the driver of the black Ford Focus is known to have followed the blue Focus in the direction of Preston and the driver of the blue Focus lost control of the vehicle and overturned outside Franco's Italian restaurant.
"The driver of the blue Ford Focus has then managed to correct his vehicle and continued on his journey towards Preston when the fatal collision has taken place."
The 31-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sgt Dennis Nicholson, from the Road Policing Unit, said: "We are currently investigating a complex sequence of events that has ultimately led to a young man losing his life and left another man in a serious condition in hospital, so I would urge anyone that has any information to contact police urgently.
"Firstly, I would appeal to anyone that witnessed the minor collision between the black and blue Ford Focus outside the Old Oak public house to get in touch.
"I am confident that between 7pm and 7.20pm on a bank holiday weekend there would have been plenty of people that could be important witnesses.
"I would also appeal for people to come forward who saw the blue Ford Focus overturn outside Franco's or saw the fatal collision itself.
"Again it would still have been light and it happened on a busy main road so I am keen to speak to anyone that witnessed anything at all to come forward.
"Finally, I would also like to hear from anybody that witnessed any vehicle driving irresponsibly in the area at the time or any motorist that had to avoid an oncoming vehicle as they could have vital information."
Grimsargh parish Coun Geoff Swarbrick said the stretch is notorious for speeding drivers.
He said: "The time for something to be done was years ago."
A 48-year-old man from Longridge has been bailed until October 21.
* Call Preston Road Policing on 01772 203203.
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Weather for Preston
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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