0:00:02 > 0:00:06North Yorkshire, the largest county in England and Wales -
0:00:06 > 0:00:10from seaside resorts like Scarborough to the historic city of York.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13It just offers you everything that policing could offer you.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16You work the cities, you work the rural areas.
0:00:16 > 0:00:196,000 miles of some of Britain's most scenic
0:00:19 > 0:00:21and most unforgiving roads.
0:00:21 > 0:00:26We've got three casualties of the vehicle that's there in front of us.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29The traffic cops here deal with among the highest number
0:00:29 > 0:00:32of serious collisions per person than anywhere in the UK.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Roundabout, the wrong way, wrong way.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Tonight, runaways...
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Come back here! Hey!
0:00:40 > 0:00:42It doesn't really matter.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44Occasionally, people blow, don't they?
0:00:44 > 0:00:46A roadside haul...
0:00:46 > 0:00:49I'd say there's maybe about a kilo and a half in weight in there.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52And a major investigation into a tragic accident.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55The update that I've just got over the radio as well
0:00:55 > 0:00:59from the hospital is that there is now a fatal accident.
0:00:59 > 0:01:00Welcome to North Yorkshire,
0:01:00 > 0:01:04a vast area stretching the traffic cops to the limit.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22Covering 3,200 square miles,
0:01:22 > 0:01:28North Yorkshire's traffic cops have the biggest beat in England.
0:01:28 > 0:01:34Coordinating the cops on the road is the Force Control Room in York.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36Yeah, do you want to pass details on?
0:01:36 > 0:01:41This centre receives and processes all calls to North Yorkshire Police,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44around 900 every 24 hours.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49The pressure is on Controllers like Dave Hopkinson to
0:01:49 > 0:01:51maximise police resources.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53You've always got things running through your mind.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57Most of the time it's "Where's my nearest unit?
0:01:57 > 0:01:59"What units do I need there?
0:01:59 > 0:02:01"What areas do I need to consider closing off?"
0:02:01 > 0:02:05Trying to think one step ahead, so you're constantly looking at the bigger scenario.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09It's 5pm and 15 miles north,
0:02:09 > 0:02:12TC Steve Kiwi Gardner of the North Yorkshire Road Policing Group
0:02:12 > 0:02:16is at Harrogate police station at the start of a shift.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22An urgent call comes through from the Force Control Room.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Come in, urgent.
0:02:32 > 0:02:33Sounds serious.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37It's a report of a collision involving a motorcyclist on the A59,
0:02:37 > 0:02:39five miles west of town.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44The complicating factor is it's on a stretch of road closed
0:02:44 > 0:02:46due to an earlier accident.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50It sounds like a knock-on effect from the traffic
0:02:50 > 0:02:56congestion from that bump has caused another RTA further back,
0:02:56 > 0:03:01involving a motorcyclist who is now unconscious.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08The road is a major arterial route east to west between Harrogate
0:03:08 > 0:03:09and Skipton.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13Um, there is no alternative route.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16It does sound serious at this point in time.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19We're really fortunate to live in a rural county
0:03:19 > 0:03:24and some of the roads in our county have a major
0:03:24 > 0:03:27attraction to motorcyclists from all over the country.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31These long country roads are also badly affected by the elements.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34The weather conditions are really deteriorating right now
0:03:34 > 0:03:37and it's going dark very, very quickly, so it makes you
0:03:37 > 0:03:40wonder why a motorcyclist goes out in these conditions.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45Kiwi knows just how dangerous bad weather can be for bikers.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50Being a motorcyclist myself, yeah, it's scary.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Very, very wet roads, um, heavy downpours -
0:03:54 > 0:03:56motorcycles don't have any protection at all.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00So once you're involved in a bump,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03if it involves a motorcyclist, it's potential serious.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07He arrives to find a local police team already on the scene.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13Er, we've got people already closing the road here. That's great.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15As the only available traffic officer,
0:04:15 > 0:04:19it falls on Kiwi's shoulders to begin the investigation.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23My role initially is almost a management role.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25The police take control of any scene,
0:04:25 > 0:04:29no matter what other emergency services are there.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Kiwi receives an update from one of the first officers to
0:04:32 > 0:04:34arrive at the scene, a local firearms cop.
0:04:34 > 0:04:39- There's another accident that way, is there?- Yeah, we've been to that one.- What's the status of that one?
0:04:39 > 0:04:41- They're all right.- They got minor injuries or anything?
0:04:41 > 0:04:44- Yeah, minor injuries.- OK. - A bit of a back injury.- Right.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Then that one came and you got this one shouted and the paramedics came across to us
0:04:47 > 0:04:52and said the information they've got is the bike's had a right big clout and is possibly fatal,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- so that's why we've come to this one straightaway.- Sure.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57The rider in is in a critical condition.
0:04:57 > 0:05:03I could see oxygen bottles there and I knew that that was not a place for me to be.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05They had that under control.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07We've got two ambulances at scene.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Looks like the casualty's just entering one at the moment.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Likely to prove the full callout, please.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18Full callout is what we use for Collision Investigation Unit,
0:05:18 > 0:05:20to have them to the scene.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24It sort of ups the ante, really, on our investigation.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29This severely damaged motorbike will be a key piece of evidence.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34It is a Triumph Daytona, er, 575 triple.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38Can you do a postcode check and see that it's registered to that address? Over.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41We have a term in our job
0:05:41 > 0:05:44we call the golden hour and in the first hour after an accident,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47we can actually gather a lot of evidence.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Each accident scene that we attend are entirely different
0:05:50 > 0:05:52and there are clues left at the scene, like a...
0:05:52 > 0:05:55like a crime scene that you might see on a movie.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Another vital piece of evidence will be
0:05:58 > 0:06:02the testimony from the driver of the car the motorcycle hit.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Does anyone know where the driver of this Honda is, please?
0:06:04 > 0:06:07- Yeah.- In the car - that way?
0:06:07 > 0:06:10- In the van.- In the van. OK.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Hello, there.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15- Can you tell us what happened? - WOMAN SOBS
0:06:15 > 0:06:22The husband of the lady driving the silver Honda was driving this blue van with his wife following behind.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26They'd been asked to pull over by the police because of the accident ahead.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29After waiting for some time, they tried to do a U-turn in the road.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34As they did so, the bike collided with the Honda.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Both husband and wife claim the bike had no lights on.
0:06:38 > 0:06:43At that point, um, my ears pricked up to the gentleman telling me
0:06:43 > 0:06:46that the motorcycle approached with no lights on.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50Most motorcycles run with the headlights on full-time
0:06:50 > 0:06:52and it's impossible to turn them off.
0:06:52 > 0:06:53Right, OK.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56As well as investigating the couple's claim that the bike's
0:06:56 > 0:06:59light was off, Kiwi also needs to establish
0:06:59 > 0:07:02if the driver should have seen the rider prior to the impact.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07The driver says she indicated and checked the road was clear in both
0:07:07 > 0:07:12directions but as she made a U-turn, the rider appeared from nowhere.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16Everyone sees an accident differently.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20They describe things differently and they judge speeds differently.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25But to get that initial account is important to me.
0:07:25 > 0:07:26Can you find that lorry driver?
0:07:26 > 0:07:28Can you find where he was when the accident happened?
0:07:28 > 0:07:31- The bike overtook him.- Right.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33- He is a cracking witness, then. - Yeah, yeah.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36We need all his details and we want the statement tonight if we can.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Now Kiwi has to piece together the facts behind the collision
0:07:39 > 0:07:41and whether anyone WAS at fault.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47Back in the Force Control Room in York,
0:07:47 > 0:07:52the collision is one of many incidents being handled tonight.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55As well as coordinating the police response,
0:07:55 > 0:07:59Controller Dave Hopkinson also tracks the movements of known criminals.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03He monitors information from the county's many automatic
0:08:03 > 0:08:07number plate recognition - or ANPR - cameras.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11ANPR is a very good piece of kit that we've got.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14There's various cameras plotted throughout the Force.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16They will read every numberplate of vehicles that go past.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19If there's a vehicle that is of interest to ourselves,
0:08:19 > 0:08:23that will flag up on my computer system here.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25From there, I can then read the numberplate, see the information
0:08:25 > 0:08:30held on it and pass it out to the other officers in the area.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33TC Martin Hayes of North Yorkshire Roads Policing Group
0:08:33 > 0:08:38is on patrol near Wetherby, when ANPR flags up a wanted vehicle.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46Monitored.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Martin is one of the nearest units.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51There's intelligence regarding that vehicle
0:08:51 > 0:08:54that it may be involved in a theft from the Leeds area.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57It's a silver Volkswagen Caddy van.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00ANPR is probably one of the best pieces of equipment to come out
0:09:00 > 0:09:02in the last few decades.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06The key thing for us is to get there is quickly as possible,
0:09:06 > 0:09:10to apprehend any offenders but also prevent them
0:09:10 > 0:09:13from destroying or disposing of any evidence.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Martin transferred from the Metropolitan Police to the
0:09:17 > 0:09:19North Yorkshire Force ten years ago.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23When I was telling people I was moving to North Yorkshire,
0:09:23 > 0:09:28I was abused for going off to deal with badger baiting,
0:09:28 > 0:09:31sheep rustling and carrot theft.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33But there's more to this patch than rural crime.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36There's an undercurrent of criminality that most normal
0:09:36 > 0:09:39people will never see but it's out there on the roads,
0:09:39 > 0:09:41and that's what we're out trying to catch.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Martin joins the A(M) south of Wetherby,
0:09:47 > 0:09:50at least two miles from where the van was last spotted.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53It's at the point now where the A1 splits,
0:09:53 > 0:09:58so it's going towards the M1 towards Leeds.
0:09:58 > 0:09:59Ah, there he is.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03A police Land Rover is already on the van's tail.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05MUFFLED RADIO CONTACT
0:10:05 > 0:10:06When challenged to stop,
0:10:06 > 0:10:09the driver in front of the Land Rover puts his foot down.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15It's quite clear from his actions that he has no intention of stopping
0:10:15 > 0:10:20for us, and for all intents and purposes, we're now into a pursuit.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23As the runaway driver's speed rapidly increases, so does the
0:10:23 > 0:10:25risk of it causing a collision.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31We were certainly 100 miles an hour plus, I think, by this point.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34Martin takes over as the lead vehicle.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37There's all sorts going on in your mind at the time.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40First and foremost, is there is a sense of danger
0:10:40 > 0:10:43but we're trained to drive at that speed.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46The idea is to prevent him getting off the motorway network,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49to keep him on the biggest, widest road we possibly can,
0:10:49 > 0:10:52away from as many members of the public as we can.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55The last place we want him going is into town.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58The van veers onto the hard shoulder.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01What he's doing there is extremely dangerous.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04If there is an unlit broken-down vehicle further along that road,
0:11:04 > 0:11:09at the speed he was travelling at, the results would be catastrophic.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11SIREN
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Has he just thrown something out?
0:11:15 > 0:11:19He appears to have thrown something out, possibly at junction 42, 41.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26- RADIO:- 'Are you still there?' - Yeah, I'm lead vehicle, single crew, TPAC trained.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Safe to continue. Can we have authority for TPAC, please?
0:11:29 > 0:11:32TPAC, or Tactical Pursuit And Containment,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35is a strategy to try and box the van in and bring it to a stop.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48But then - roadworks.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50Motorways are always a dangerous place
0:11:50 > 0:11:53but now we're down to one lane, plus the hard shoulder.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55The danger level is increased greatly.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57My concern at that point was
0:11:57 > 0:12:01do I have to consider calling this off now?
0:12:01 > 0:12:02In the last ten years,
0:12:02 > 0:12:07194 fatalities have occurred during police pursuits.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Martin continues his pursuit and when the lanes
0:12:10 > 0:12:13open out again, the van looks for an escape route.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17Pursuit monitored. It's junction 44.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21It's off, off, off to A639 towards Leeds.
0:12:21 > 0:12:22Roundabout ahead, three options.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Standby, standby.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Now heading off the motorway,
0:12:26 > 0:12:30what the driver does next is even more dangerous.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33Roundabout, runway, runway.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Onto the dual carriageway, standby.
0:12:36 > 0:12:37'Their focus is on getting away
0:12:37 > 0:12:40'and they'll do anything at their means to do so.'
0:12:40 > 0:12:44Without a doubt, the consequences of a head-on collision at dual
0:12:44 > 0:12:49carriageway speeds, it's guaranteed there would be a fatality in that.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52With Martin under pressure to continue the pursuit without
0:12:52 > 0:12:53putting anyone else at risk...
0:12:56 > 0:13:02..on the A59 west of Harrogate, TC Steve Kiwi Gardner is dealing with
0:13:02 > 0:13:06the aftermath of a major collision that's left a young motorcyclist
0:13:06 > 0:13:08critically injured.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12Paramedics are taking the biker for further treatment to hospital.
0:13:12 > 0:13:13So how do I feel?
0:13:13 > 0:13:17It's sad but it's also something that as a traffic officer,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21you've got to try and contain those feelings and move on.
0:13:21 > 0:13:26We have to have an internal mechanism that will, um,
0:13:26 > 0:13:29try and preserve and protect our own sanity,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32our own well-being for our families' sakes, anyway.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Sometimes it's more difficult than others.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38The biker hit the Honda doing a U-turn
0:13:38 > 0:13:40and despite the claim that the bike had no lights on,
0:13:40 > 0:13:44it's unclear who, if anyone, is to blame for the collision.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48The questions that we need to ask as investigating officers now is
0:13:48 > 0:13:50was the motorcyclist there to be seen,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53and was the driver turning round, cut straight in front
0:13:53 > 0:13:57of the motorcyclist, or was the motorcyclist wearing dark
0:13:57 > 0:14:00clothing without a light on, in dusk, and not there to be seen?
0:14:01 > 0:14:05That's our number one role, is to produce evidence to see
0:14:05 > 0:14:07if anybody's done anything wrong.
0:14:07 > 0:14:13Most accidents involve um, someone making an error, so it's our job to
0:14:13 > 0:14:16find out which driver made the error and how severe was that error.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22Kiwi needs witnesses to help establish exactly what's happened.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Did you see anything?
0:14:24 > 0:14:26The witness tells him that they
0:14:26 > 0:14:30spotted the bike ten minutes earlier driving at high speed.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32You're fantastic witnesses.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36We want you to stay here for the meantime, if you can, please.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38Please. Thank you very much.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42We've found three separate witnesses now, that have seen the
0:14:42 > 0:14:47motorcyclist at some point, um, but further before the accident scene.
0:14:47 > 0:14:52And they've all stated that he's been going flat out.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54As Kiwi talks to the witnesses,
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Forensic Collision Investigator Steve Kirkbright arrives.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00I'd finished duty for the day.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Because of the nature of our Force and the size of the area,
0:15:03 > 0:15:04we also do an on-call system.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06I'd gone home, I'd taken the dogs out for a walk.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09I think we were just at the point of discussing
0:15:09 > 0:15:12what we were going to do for tea and the phone went.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Steve's served 30 years in North Yorkshire Police,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18including 14 as a crash investigator,
0:15:18 > 0:15:22dealing with serious road incidents across the county.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27His job is to bring a methodical approach to investigating the crash scene.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31My mother would tell you that logic, puzzles
0:15:31 > 0:15:34and things like that have always been a fascination to me.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38I'm turning up at the end of an event
0:15:38 > 0:15:41and I have to work backwards through time.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44I might take over 100 photographs - the damage to the cars,
0:15:44 > 0:15:46the position the vehicles are in,
0:15:46 > 0:15:48where the casualty came to rest,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51marks on the road surface, tyre marks,
0:15:51 > 0:15:55scrape marks, where the glass has ended up out of the car -
0:15:55 > 0:15:59we'd form conclusions from factual evidence.
0:15:59 > 0:16:00What are you thinking?
0:16:00 > 0:16:04The bike's gone over the top. The bike's gone sideways.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07- So it is a...- There's no scrapes to where the bike goes.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09And there's nothing across the verge for the rider.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13- Yeah, yeah, yeah, OK.- The bike's gone over the top.- Right.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15What angle are you putting the car on, then, in the turn,
0:16:15 > 0:16:17- do you think?- All of that?- Yeah.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21It's the other side window, yeah?
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Here. Right, OK.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26So it's an angular blow, it's not a direct hit? Yeah.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28It's 10pm.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31This A road has been closed for more than four hours,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34causing major disruption between Harrogate and Skipton.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38It can be a difficult thing for the public to understand,
0:16:38 > 0:16:43when they're sat in a tailback on a diversion but there is a responsibility.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45We will take our time.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48At best, I tend to deal with conditions that involve
0:16:48 > 0:16:50life-changing injuries. At worst, people are dead.
0:16:50 > 0:16:56We will apply as much resources and skill as if somebody had been murdered.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Shaun's going to jack up road closure.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02- And we'll have to reconstruct... - Do some timings for that.
0:17:02 > 0:17:03Like we did on that last one.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07- Brilliant.- Bring that unmarked BMW and work it out.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09OK, nice one.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12When Steve has gathered the evidence he needs,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15everything from the crash scene will be removed.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19It's too early to give a full picture of what's happened.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22We'll do a full mechanical examination of the three vehicles involved,
0:17:22 > 0:17:24the blue van, the Honda and the motorcycle,
0:17:24 > 0:17:27check that there is no defects with any of them,
0:17:27 > 0:17:31do a reconstruction of the line of damage, and see what the
0:17:31 > 0:17:35motor vehicles tell us towards the story of what's happened here tonight.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38With the collision team in control of the scene,
0:17:38 > 0:17:41Kiwi's focus now turns to the driver,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44who needs to provide a formal interview back at the station.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46If you're feeling unwell at any point in time,
0:17:46 > 0:17:48just let us know, won't you?
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Obviously, you've been through a massive shock today.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57'She is very, very traumatised. In shock, almost.'
0:17:59 > 0:18:02If you don't feel well, just let me know, all right?
0:18:06 > 0:18:08'She's in absolute pieces.'
0:18:08 > 0:18:10Total concern for the other rider.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12That's quite common with people I deal with.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16They're always asking for updates on the welfare of the other
0:18:16 > 0:18:18drivers involved.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22The driver's account will be key in determining the events that
0:18:22 > 0:18:23led up to the collision.
0:18:32 > 0:18:3615 miles south, PC Martin Hayes is still pursuing a wanted van
0:18:36 > 0:18:39heading out of North Yorkshire towards Leeds.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43It's at B648 towards Leeds.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46Stand by for direction at next roundabout.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50The van dumps something on the motorway and desperate to escape,
0:18:50 > 0:18:54the driver is becoming increasingly reckless as he races into the city.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03He sailed through a red light like it wasn't even there.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05All he cares about is getting way.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Romeo 1-8 is now the lead vehicle.
0:19:07 > 0:19:12Martin may have support in place but during a high-speed pursuit,
0:19:12 > 0:19:13it's his judgement that counts.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15There is an element of the thrill of the chase
0:19:15 > 0:19:19but you have to be aware of any possibility of what
0:19:19 > 0:19:20we refer to as red mist setting in,
0:19:20 > 0:19:24where the pursuit becomes a personal challenge between you and the
0:19:24 > 0:19:28vehicle you're chasing, and safety becomes a secondary concern.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30That's when you should be stopping.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44In the mazy outskirts of the city, Martin and the other
0:19:44 > 0:19:47pursuing cops are in danger of losing their target.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56He's given us the slip and we've somewhat lost him.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01It is the proverbial needle in a haystack now.
0:20:12 > 0:20:17The cops have lost the van but the trail has not gone cold.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20There's still whatever was dumped on the motorway.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36I do believe that would explain the failure to stop.
0:20:38 > 0:20:43Likewise, I'm going to depart Leeds and head back to North Yorkshire.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Back at base, Martin meets TC Smith,
0:20:49 > 0:20:53who was in the Land Rover during the chase.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56He has quite a haul.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59I would say there's probably...
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Probably a kilo and a half in weight in there, roughly speaking.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06I would think that some had blown into the grass, but that's
0:21:06 > 0:21:09what was down the hard shoulder and running to the gully, so...
0:21:09 > 0:21:12I've used my best talents as Mrs Mop and picked it all up.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Have you got a bag for this
0:21:14 > 0:21:16because this is the box that stinks of cannabis.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20It was a good result to take that amount of drugs off the street.
0:21:20 > 0:21:21Rough value, I think,
0:21:21 > 0:21:25is somewhere in the region of £5,500 to £6,000, possibly more.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28The cannabis and the box are important evidence that could
0:21:28 > 0:21:30lead to the van driver.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32With it being sort of shiny cardboard,
0:21:32 > 0:21:36there's a fairly good prospect of getting some fingerprints off it.
0:21:38 > 0:21:39That would be the ideal.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43News comes in that the van has been found abandoned in Leeds.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46There should be enough forensic evidence to link
0:21:46 > 0:21:49somebody to the vehicle and with the footage from our cars, hopefully
0:21:49 > 0:21:52we have enough evidence there to prosecute them
0:21:52 > 0:21:54for driving offences, drug offences...
0:21:54 > 0:21:56Who knows what else we might find?
0:21:56 > 0:21:59If you could remove drugs from the equation,
0:21:59 > 0:22:01you would remove a large portion of crime.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05Most crime is committed by people who are doing so
0:22:05 > 0:22:07to fund a drug habit.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10While the van driver escapes justice tonight,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12this is a case that won't end here.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15The job doesn't stop now, just because the pursuit's over.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18There's inquiries that can be made to trace people that
0:22:18 > 0:22:21were in the vehicle and that's the main thing for us, really.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25The pursuit's over, but those inquiries now commence.
0:22:29 > 0:22:3417 miles north-west at Harrogate Police Station,
0:22:34 > 0:22:38TC Steve Kiwi Gardner is continuing his investigation
0:22:38 > 0:22:39with the driver of a car
0:22:39 > 0:22:43involved in a serious collision with a motorbike.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45While the driver waits to be interviewed,
0:22:45 > 0:22:49control room staff pass on some tragic news.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52The update that I've just got over the radio as well
0:22:52 > 0:22:55from the hospital is that there's now a fatal accident.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01Kiwi's investigation has become even more serious.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05There's a possibility that the driver of the car has
0:23:05 > 0:23:08committed an offence of driving without due care and attention,
0:23:08 > 0:23:12but now that the motorcyclist has died, that offence ramps
0:23:12 > 0:23:15straight up to death by driving without due care and attention.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17So it's quite a serious offence.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Well, it is an extremely serious offence.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23Two factors will determine whether or not the rider was clearly
0:23:23 > 0:23:28visible - the motorcycle's speed and whether its lights were on.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31There's no way you can ride a motorcycle without a headlight.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33- No.- Automatically.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37And they both said that there was no headlight on the bike.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41It might be the case that when she started to turn
0:23:41 > 0:23:45and she looked down the road, the motorcycle wasn't there
0:23:45 > 0:23:47because it was going so fast,
0:23:47 > 0:23:50it was actually over the brow of the hill, around the corner.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52It is also possible that she were following her husband,
0:23:52 > 0:23:56who's had that same turn, she's more looking at what he's doing
0:23:56 > 0:23:59and where he's going, than looking down the road at a motorcycle
0:23:59 > 0:24:01coming towards her very quickly.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04In our job, there's no more important investigation than
0:24:04 > 0:24:09to be able to account to a family how and why their loved one died.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12I feel sorry for both parties.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14I feel sorry for a family, now,
0:24:14 > 0:24:16that's got to suffer that bereavement. And I feel sorry for,
0:24:16 > 0:24:22you know, what seems like a split second in her life,
0:24:22 > 0:24:26is now going to have a knock-on effect for the rest of her life.
0:24:26 > 0:24:31- I need to caution you, OK, before we start.- Yes.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35And that is that you do not have to say anything,
0:24:35 > 0:24:38but it may harm your defence if you do not mention,
0:24:38 > 0:24:41when questioned, something which you may later rely on in court.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Anything that you do say may be given in evidence.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47We're constantly monitoring her signs, her speech.
0:24:47 > 0:24:53If she took any downturn whatsoever, we would stop the interview
0:24:53 > 0:24:56and continue it another day.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58The key question for Kiwi, now,
0:24:58 > 0:25:02is could the driver have seen the bike before she decided to U-turn?
0:25:02 > 0:25:05The driver insists she looked in both directions
0:25:05 > 0:25:08and it was clear as she crossed the road.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12Then she describes the rider looming into vision from out of nowhere.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14And the sound of the collision.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18I know that road very, very well
0:25:18 > 0:25:21and I was very aware that that was a straight
0:25:21 > 0:25:28piece of road and, so, while she's describing her U-turn, it became
0:25:28 > 0:25:32a worry to me that she couldn't see a motorcyclist coming towards her.
0:25:32 > 0:25:33That makes sense.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36I don't think I have any further questions, at this time.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39It's been an extremely traumatic night.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Tomorrow, the collision investigation team will
0:25:43 > 0:25:47determine whether the driver could and should have seen the bike.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00North Yorkshire stretches over 100 miles,
0:26:00 > 0:26:04from the Pennine Hills in the west, to the North Sea coast in the east.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08To cover such a vast area,
0:26:08 > 0:26:11many of the traffic cops here work single crewed.
0:26:11 > 0:26:16It's 11am and TC Mark Gonella, of Scarborough Roads Policing
0:26:16 > 0:26:20Group, is on patrol in the county's biggest coastal town.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23Scarborough's built up on a community of people,
0:26:23 > 0:26:25people that have lived in this area for years.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27It's a beautiful area.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30Last Sunday, you could drive along the seafront in Scarborough
0:26:30 > 0:26:34with the sun rising, you know, how lucky am I?
0:26:34 > 0:26:36I wouldn't change it.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40At 11.15, York control room receives a report of a collision
0:26:40 > 0:26:43in the Barrowcliff housing estate, on the edge of Scarborough.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45Yeah, do you want to pass the details on?
0:26:45 > 0:26:49Mark is the nearest officer.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51What've you got?
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Yeah, I can start heading that way, I'm not far.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08SIREN WAILS
0:27:08 > 0:27:10It appears that a vehicle
0:27:10 > 0:27:13has possibly crashed into a stationary car.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16And there was some talk of the driver may well have
0:27:16 > 0:27:18been on his phone at the time.
0:27:18 > 0:27:19Across the UK,
0:27:19 > 0:27:23one in three accidents happen within a mile of home.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25In such a residential area,
0:27:25 > 0:27:28it's possible that someone involved will live close by.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Mark arrives to find neighbours moving a car to the
0:27:31 > 0:27:33side of the road.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35His job is to find out if anyone's at fault.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38Right, this may well be it.
0:27:38 > 0:27:39- RADIO:- Go ahead.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47Hello! Are you involved?
0:27:47 > 0:27:50- Where are you going, are you the driver?- No.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54- Are you driver? Can you come back? Hang on!- Two seconds.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57No, no, not two seconds. Hey! Come back here!
0:27:57 > 0:28:01- No, my husband was in the car with me.- Right, OK, you were driving?
0:28:01 > 0:28:02- Yeah.- Yeah, yeah, well,
0:28:02 > 0:28:05I don't want you running off while I want to talk to you.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08No, I was just getting my husband, because he was sat in the car with me.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11'The initial thought for me is, I hardly ever go to an accident where
0:28:11 > 0:28:14'I've got someone running away from the scene, specifically, the driver.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16'That's the alarm bells for me.'
0:28:16 > 0:28:17'What's this person hiding?'
0:28:17 > 0:28:21Why do they want to get away? Should they have been driving?
0:28:21 > 0:28:24It seems the driver has bumped another car, just outside her home.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26- Is this your car, is it?- Yeah.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29- Are there any witnesses to what happened?- We were all witnesses.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31What I'll do, I'll get you...
0:28:31 > 0:28:33- Can you just sit in my car for two seconds?- Yeah.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36Just one of you witnesses, can I just have one of you, please?
0:28:36 > 0:28:37All of a sudden,
0:28:37 > 0:28:40an irate husband adds to the chaos Mark has to deal with.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42What's going on with all this?
0:28:42 > 0:28:44Right, don't come down here and start having an attitude with me.
0:28:44 > 0:28:48- I'm not having an attitude, all these people and all these cameras. - OK, all right.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51- Do you know what I mean?- Were you in the car?- Yeah.- I'll speak to you in a minute.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54- I want to speak to the driver of the car.- Right.- First, all right?
0:28:54 > 0:28:58He's agitated, isn't he? I've got to try and keep him calm, because you don't know
0:28:58 > 0:29:00how he's going to react, what's he going to do?
0:29:00 > 0:29:01I don't want you getting excited.
0:29:01 > 0:29:05- I'm not excited, obviously, it's just...- Is that your house up there? - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08Why don't you go up there and I'll come and talk to you in a minute.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10- Come and sit yourself in here, all right?- Yeah.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12Don't press any of my buttons.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16Finally, Mark can get an account from one of the bystanders.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18Did you witness it?
0:29:18 > 0:29:20- She was coming down here.- Right.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23The lady's car, here, was, basically, on the road, here.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27- Did you see why it skimmed it, why it hit it?- No.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29I think the car did move a little bit like that,
0:29:29 > 0:29:31a bit off-balance, so...
0:29:31 > 0:29:34- Right, was she doing anything in the car?- No, no, no. Just normal.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37- You saw the driver?- Yeah.- Cos someone said she was on her phone.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40- No, no, she wasn't. - No driver on the phone?- No, no, no.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43- I saw it, as clear as day. She was on no phone.- Right.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47You pop over there, I'll have a chat with this young lady.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49- Hey up, right.- Hiya.
0:29:49 > 0:29:55- What's happened?- Basically, I was just north driving...- Yeah.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58And I don't know, I don't know what happened, it just bumped that car.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01But why did you just bump that car?
0:30:02 > 0:30:04There's got to be a reason that you bumped it.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07I must've been too close.
0:30:07 > 0:30:08Well...
0:30:08 > 0:30:11How did you not see the car on the road?
0:30:13 > 0:30:16Well, I did see it, but I was checking that side as well,
0:30:16 > 0:30:17cos there was kids on the side of the road.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19I was looking out of that mirror.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22- Cos there was kids on the road and, obviously...- Right.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25There's something about the driver's account that isn't ringing
0:30:25 > 0:30:26true with Mark.
0:30:26 > 0:30:31Most people I deal with, they know what's happened, the story
0:30:31 > 0:30:36sort of flows and she's putting too much thought into it for me.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39I think I'm taking it with a pinch of salt at that time.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43- I'll be honest, someone said that you were on the phone.- I wasn't on the phone.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46- Were you on your phone at the time of the collision?- No, I wasn't on my phone.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48- Have you got your phone with you? - My phone's there.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50My phone's been on charge in the car, I've just unplugged it.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53So, were you doing anything with your phone?
0:30:53 > 0:30:56I wasn't doing anything with my phone.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59My son's just phoned my daughter to say, obviously,
0:30:59 > 0:31:01I won't be going, cos of what's happened.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04- And who did you ring before that? - That's my husband.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06- Where was- BLEEP- sat?
0:31:06 > 0:31:08In the...
0:31:08 > 0:31:12He was sat in the back and my husband was sat in the front.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14Right, OK.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17So, why did he phone you?
0:31:17 > 0:31:21To... Obviously, cos of my daughter.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23I was going to see my daughter.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25- Right, but he was in the car with you?- Yeah.
0:31:25 > 0:31:30It's unravelling, you know, as she's talking.
0:31:30 > 0:31:35She's not thinking quickly enough to try and cover her tracks
0:31:35 > 0:31:38and there's a lot of questions, now, running round in my head.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40Why would he phone you, if he was in the car with you?
0:31:40 > 0:31:43No, cos he got out the car.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45After I'd bumped it.
0:31:46 > 0:31:48It doesn't ring right, does it?
0:31:48 > 0:31:51Well, that's what happened.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54Unable to establish if the driver was on the phone,
0:31:54 > 0:31:58Mark suspects she may have been committing other offences.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01I think police officers join the police
0:32:01 > 0:32:02because they're that way inclined.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05You're nosey, you want to ask questions, you want to find
0:32:05 > 0:32:08things out, go slightly under that surface and dig that much deeper.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12- Have you got a driving licence? - I've got a provisional.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14Right, OK, where are your L-plates?
0:32:16 > 0:32:18In the boot.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21- Has your partner got a full UK driving licence?- Yeah.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25- He's fully comp. - Was he supervising you then?- Yeah.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28- And you're on the insurance? - No, I'm not, no.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30- So you're not insured either? - No.- OK.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33I've got to caution you that you do not have to say anything,
0:32:33 > 0:32:36but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned,
0:32:36 > 0:32:38something which you later rely on in court
0:32:38 > 0:32:40and anything you do say may be given in evidence.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43It's estimated that, every year, 35,000 learner
0:32:43 > 0:32:46drivers are prosecuted for not displaying L-plates.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49It's important that you put L-plates on a car,
0:32:49 > 0:32:52because everybody else, then, knows you're a learner driver.
0:32:52 > 0:32:57Everybody else treats you with that little bit more understanding,
0:32:57 > 0:32:59don't they?
0:32:59 > 0:33:03The driver's husband has returned to his damaged car.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05Can you not drive it?
0:33:07 > 0:33:09Don't drive it for us, mate.
0:33:11 > 0:33:13Can I just have the ignition keys?
0:33:13 > 0:33:15- Have you got your keys? - Yeah, I've got them.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17- OK, can I have the keys? - I'll just put them away.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19- No, no, no, come here. - They're my keys.- Right, come here.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21- They're my keys.- Come here!
0:33:21 > 0:33:24- Yeah, I will, let me... - Right, listen.- Yeah?
0:33:24 > 0:33:26851, can I have another unit, please?
0:33:26 > 0:33:29- Right.- But they're my keys. - Right, listen to me.- Yeah.
0:33:29 > 0:33:30OK, I'm not going to argue with you.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33I'm not going to argue with you, I'm just saying, they're my keys.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36And I'm not going to get stupid, all right?
0:33:36 > 0:33:38- Were you driving that...- It's my property.- Right.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40- Listen to me. - Yeah, I am listening, but...
0:33:40 > 0:33:43- RADIO BLEEPS - I'm in order, but I could do with a unit, please.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45- I understand what you're saying. - Hang on.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48Policing in North Yorkshire is very different to Manchester or the Met.
0:33:48 > 0:33:53You haven't got that backup, maybe 20 seconds, a minute away,
0:33:53 > 0:33:56so, maybe, that's why I deal with people in a different way.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58- What I don't want to do... - Yeah, I know.- Hang on, hang on.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02- What I don't want to do... At the moment, we're down here.- Yeah.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05- I don't want us to end up, up there. - Yeah, it escalates.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07- I want to inspect the car. - Yeah, sound.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09- I need to check the car. - Yeah, sound.- I want the keys.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11You're not going to wander off with the keys.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13- You've just tried starting it...- Yeah, so...- Hang on.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16He's excitable, he's upset.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18The last thing I want is fighting with people.
0:34:23 > 0:34:2860 miles southwest, TC Steve Kiwi Gardner, of the Road Policing
0:34:28 > 0:34:34Group, is patrolling the A61, between Harrogate and Ripon.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37Yeah, thank you.
0:34:37 > 0:34:38Yeah, I'm a born and bred Kiwi.
0:34:38 > 0:34:43I was in the police in New Zealand, that's where I started my career.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46There's not a great deal of difference in police in New Zealand.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50We wear a very similar uniform, a lot of our case law
0:34:50 > 0:34:54is from British courts, so we have a lot of similarities.
0:34:54 > 0:34:55Except for the weather.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58It's 1.30pm and a call comes in.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01The sergeant's just shouted up, Paul Cording.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04He's trying to get a car stopped just in the next village
0:35:04 > 0:35:06along from here. And it's failing to stop for him.
0:35:06 > 0:35:09At this point in time, we don't know why.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11But we're actually quite local for it.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14I'm just trying to picture where he is at the moment.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17The words "failed to stop" prick up any traffic officer's ears.
0:35:17 > 0:35:23I listened to the location and realised, very quickly, that we
0:35:23 > 0:35:27were within a close proximity of that "fail to stop" vehicle.
0:35:27 > 0:35:28SIRENS BLARE
0:35:28 > 0:35:30Just two miles east, Sergeant Paul Cording
0:35:30 > 0:35:32of North Yorkshire Roads Policing Group
0:35:32 > 0:35:35is in pursuit of the fleeing Vauxhall.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52Paul had spotted the car a few moments earlier
0:35:52 > 0:35:54and signalled it to stop.
0:35:54 > 0:36:00I only wanted to speak to the driver about his speed.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03And one thing's led to another.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05Why he's failing to stop at this stage,
0:36:05 > 0:36:08that's the million dollar question.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14Making his way to the area, Kiwi listens in on the police radio,
0:36:14 > 0:36:17planning to cut the driver off at the next village.
0:36:21 > 0:36:25As Kiwi listens to Paul's updates, it's soon apparent there's
0:36:25 > 0:36:28something very odd about this countryside chase.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37Unusually, for this type of pursuit, the speeds were quite low.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41This chap's slowing down for all of the junctions, taking a wide berth
0:36:41 > 0:36:46with a pedestrian jogger, he's not actually doing anything dangerous.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57Moments later, the driver suddenly slows to a stop.
0:36:57 > 0:36:59Stop there.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01'I pulled up to the near side of this vehicle,
0:37:01 > 0:37:04'made eye contact with the driver, he was indicating to me that he
0:37:04 > 0:37:07wasn't going to stop and he wasn't going to get out of his vehicle,
0:37:07 > 0:37:11by some mouthed words and gesticulations with his hands.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15It was a little bit of a strange one.
0:37:15 > 0:37:19As the car sets off again, Paul stays on the driver's tail,
0:37:19 > 0:37:21while Kiwi's playing catch-up.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25This is the village of Stavely now, where he was two villages ago.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28Copgrove's one mile away from where we are, he's only just gone
0:37:28 > 0:37:30through Copgrove.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33We're about a mile behind him now.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35I, personally,
0:37:35 > 0:37:39cycle, off-duty, around this area, so I know all the little back roads.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42And I'm trying to picture the direction the sergeant's
0:37:42 > 0:37:46travelling in, so that I can either get ahead of him
0:37:46 > 0:37:50with a stinger or I can assist him with a boxing in.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06That's not good.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08The fact that he was going towards Copgrove,
0:38:08 > 0:38:10he's obviously done a big loop.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12So, I've been trying to play catch-up,
0:38:12 > 0:38:15he's actually come back round, behind us.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18It's the most bizarre pursuit I think I've ever been involved in.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21'This driver is just playing games with us here.'
0:38:21 > 0:38:25With the runaway driver now on his second lap of the area,
0:38:25 > 0:38:27other units have been called in to assist.
0:38:32 > 0:38:36Kiwi's headed towards the location, but he's half a loop behind us.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40We've just come from down there, he's just come through here.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44Oh, you're joking!
0:38:46 > 0:38:49Argh, I can't believe we've had to loop back round again.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52It's completely cat and mouse at the moment.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54We've got, now, three vehicles, all in different locations,
0:38:54 > 0:38:56all about a mile apart.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59I can't believe it.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01Driving round in circles.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03'By this point, I was completely frustrated, because I'm'
0:39:03 > 0:39:08turning around and playing catch-up again, so the distance is widening.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19At last, Kiwi catches sight of the Vauxhall.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22He's at the bottom of this hill now.
0:39:22 > 0:39:23He's over there.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26But, as he reaches the scene...
0:39:29 > 0:39:33..Paul and the other pursuing vehicles have made the arrest.
0:39:34 > 0:39:40Actually, mate, whoever was following me,
0:39:40 > 0:39:42I wasn't trying to outrun you,
0:39:42 > 0:39:48I was letting you keep up and we were just playing a game. Big deal.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51Right, this is what I've got to say, you're under arrest
0:39:51 > 0:39:53on suspicion of failing to stop and also dangerous driving.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55When you stopped me, it wasn't failure to stop,
0:39:55 > 0:39:57you'd actually stopped me where I live.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00I just thought I'd take you on a wild goose chase.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02Good fun, though. Not bad.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04'It was a needless pursuit, almost as if it were a game.'
0:40:04 > 0:40:07Which, for me, is a ridiculous statement,
0:40:07 > 0:40:11cos it could quite easily put people's lives at risk.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13For no apparent reason.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16The question the cops need to answer now, is why?
0:40:23 > 0:40:2760 miles east, traffic cop Mark Gonella has questions of his own,
0:40:27 > 0:40:30dealing with a minor collision on an estate in Scarborough.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32The driver has a provisional licence,
0:40:32 > 0:40:35but wasn't showing L-plates. She has no insurance
0:40:35 > 0:40:38and is claiming her husband was in the car supervising.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42- I'm investigating a collision. - Well, a scrape, yeah.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44- Nothing significant, but... - It's an accident.- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46We don't want to get silly about it.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49Mark has his hands full trying to calm the driver's husband down.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53- At the moment, I don't think she's insured to be driving that car. - Yeah.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55And I don't think she's got a driving licence that allows
0:40:55 > 0:40:58- her to drive the car. - Yeah, she does have a provisional.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00Yeah, exactly, so she shouldn't be driving it without L-plates on.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03So, at the moment, no insurance, no licence.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06- I want to chat to her.- Right.- It's not the end of the world, all right? - Yeah.
0:41:06 > 0:41:07Right, can I go, officer, please?
0:41:07 > 0:41:10You're going to go in the house, aren't you? All right,
0:41:10 > 0:41:12I'm going to come and see you in there in a minute,
0:41:12 > 0:41:14once I'm finished with your young lady.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16The backup Mark requested arrives.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18And they're here, brilliant, thank you.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24Cheers, mate. Husband's just a bit of a silly one.
0:41:24 > 0:41:25Could just do with one...
0:41:25 > 0:41:28I don't need three, but just one hanging around,
0:41:28 > 0:41:31just in case he comes out and decides he wants to be a silly boy.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34With the husband in the house and backup on the scene,
0:41:34 > 0:41:38Mark can get to the bottom of the driver's story.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40Right.
0:41:40 > 0:41:46It seems really odd to me that you've had a collision here,
0:41:46 > 0:41:51- 30 metres from your house, you've phoned- BLEEP,- eh?
0:41:51 > 0:41:54That seems odd, to phone someone that's in the car with you.
0:41:54 > 0:41:59The scenario at the moment is you're driving otherwise than in accordance
0:41:59 > 0:42:02with the licence, because you haven't got L-plates on the car.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05You've got no insurance, cos you're not on the insurance policy.
0:42:05 > 0:42:09If he's not sat in the car with you, it doesn't change that at all.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12If he is sat in the car with you, then he commits an offence of
0:42:12 > 0:42:15allowing you to drive that car with no insurance
0:42:15 > 0:42:17and he'll be prosecuted for that offence.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20If he wasn't in the car with you, don't talk him
0:42:20 > 0:42:22into getting himself into even more trouble.
0:42:22 > 0:42:26'My thoughts are, "I just want the truth."'
0:42:26 > 0:42:29And I don't want people prosecuted when they don't need to be.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33I don't want people at court when they don't need to be.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36It's just waiting for that honesty and that's what I want.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38Maybe I'm old-fashioned.
0:42:38 > 0:42:39Be honest with me.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42This is your 30 seconds that I'm going to give you,
0:42:42 > 0:42:44while I dig in there, to think about what you're going to tell me.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47Cos I will dig further and I will get witnesses.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Is that fair?
0:42:52 > 0:42:59'I think that silence is a brilliant tool. You can sit there with someone
0:42:59 > 0:43:03'and you can ask a question and don't say anything else.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07'That silence just, maybe, puts them in a position where'
0:43:07 > 0:43:10they feel they've got to say something.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16Tell me what happened. Were you by yourself?
0:43:16 > 0:43:18- Yeah.- Right.
0:43:18 > 0:43:21- No-one else in the car with you?- No.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23Why did you lie?
0:43:30 > 0:43:32Cos I didn't want my husband to get into trouble.
0:43:32 > 0:43:37What I want is honesty, all right?
0:43:37 > 0:43:38At the end of the day,
0:43:38 > 0:43:41I'm not going to turn a blind eye to what you're doing.
0:43:41 > 0:43:43You are going to get prosecuted,
0:43:43 > 0:43:46because you can't be out here doing this.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49You can't drive a car with no insurance.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52You can't just do what you're doing.
0:43:52 > 0:43:54- It's wrong, isn't it?- Mm.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57You're putting, not only yourself, but everybody else,
0:43:57 > 0:44:01at risk by driving that car.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03Is that not fair?
0:44:03 > 0:44:06- Yeah, I understand.- It's really bad.
0:44:07 > 0:44:11For me, you've got to have a massive reality check.
0:44:11 > 0:44:15Mark has one matter left to sort out, the husband.
0:44:15 > 0:44:19I just hope that people, when they leave me, actually think,
0:44:19 > 0:44:21"I was dealt with as fairly as I could have been there."
0:44:21 > 0:44:23At the end of the day, he's shook my hand,
0:44:23 > 0:44:26he's happy with the outcome, he's got his car still and he's going
0:44:26 > 0:44:29to resolve it with the other party as to the damage they've caused.
0:44:29 > 0:44:32So, you can't ask for more than that, really.
0:44:32 > 0:44:34Yeah, I'm going to prosecute people, of course I am.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37Yes, I'm going to arrest people. Yes, I'm going to fight with people.
0:44:37 > 0:44:40But I try and deal with them fairly.
0:44:46 > 0:44:51Back in Ferrensby, Paul and Kiwi still have no idea why
0:44:51 > 0:44:54a driver led them on a low-speed, wild goose chase.
0:44:54 > 0:44:57I haven't resisted anything, have I?
0:44:57 > 0:45:00So, quite clearly, I'm not resisting, I'm not a danger,
0:45:00 > 0:45:02I just can't be arsed to stop for you.
0:45:02 > 0:45:06I just couldn't be arsed to get a ticking off from you guys.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09I just can't be arsed.
0:45:09 > 0:45:11Was I drinking or something? No, I wasn't.
0:45:11 > 0:45:16- I'm just- BLEEP- with you,- BLEEP- with life,- BLEEP- with everything.
0:45:16 > 0:45:19Doesn't really matter, occasionally people blow, don't they?
0:45:19 > 0:45:22You don't have to have been drinking or be the wrong side of the law,
0:45:22 > 0:45:26- just get- BLEEP- off with everything.
0:45:26 > 0:45:28It's quite strange. I mean, I overheard him
0:45:28 > 0:45:31say he's had a tough couple of weeks at work or whatever.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35I don't really know. It's all a bit odd.
0:45:35 > 0:45:38Colleague PC Mark Mullins searches the car for any clues to the
0:45:38 > 0:45:39driver's behaviour.
0:45:39 > 0:45:43There's nothing blatantly obvious, Paul, there's no smell of weed or that.
0:45:43 > 0:45:46- He's got a couple of bags of this stuff you can buy on the internet. - Right.
0:45:46 > 0:45:48A breath test comes up blank as well.
0:45:48 > 0:45:51- I'm satisfied that that is zero. - Thank you.
0:45:51 > 0:45:53- Have you taken anything else at all today?- No.
0:45:53 > 0:45:55I bought some legal highs to take back at mine,
0:45:55 > 0:45:57but I haven't taken them.
0:45:57 > 0:45:59- They obviously were in the car... - Yeah, yeah.
0:45:59 > 0:46:02- ..but you haven't had any now? - No, no, no.
0:46:02 > 0:46:04- Would you class yourself as white, British?- Yes.
0:46:04 > 0:46:06Excellent, all right.
0:46:06 > 0:46:10We'll speak to you a bit later in relation to what's gone on, OK?
0:46:10 > 0:46:13With the driver on his way to Harrogate Police Station, Kiwi
0:46:13 > 0:46:16and Mark are piecing together what happened in the chase.
0:46:16 > 0:46:22I was en route to Boroughbridge, in the right place, at the right time.
0:46:22 > 0:46:26Got to the Copgrove turn off, turn right,
0:46:26 > 0:46:29as he's already come past that location, back towards Staveley.
0:46:29 > 0:46:33This is like when we go out for a drink, Kiwi's nearest the bar,
0:46:33 > 0:46:36- but he's always last to get to it. - LAUGHTER
0:46:36 > 0:46:39- Hello, Mark speaking. - He's got a point.
0:46:39 > 0:46:41Liar!
0:46:41 > 0:46:46If you can't take the mickey out of yourself, then it's not worth being in this job.
0:46:46 > 0:46:49Later, at Harrogate Station, Mark books in the driver.
0:46:49 > 0:46:52Is there anything in your pockets that might harm me or anybody else?
0:46:52 > 0:46:56- No, no, no.- Anything that you shouldn't have at all?- No.
0:46:56 > 0:47:00The reasons why he chose to ignore the cops are still no clearer.
0:47:00 > 0:47:03How are you feeling at the moment?
0:47:03 > 0:47:08Well, the reason I didn't stop is cos I didn't care, so, yeah,
0:47:08 > 0:47:10so, I don't care.
0:47:10 > 0:47:12I understand that, sir, but...
0:47:12 > 0:47:15Well, whatever you've got to do, guys.
0:47:15 > 0:47:17You know, you have to deal with people.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20He's had a bad day at work, he's had a bad day at the office,
0:47:20 > 0:47:22he's had a bad day at home.
0:47:22 > 0:47:26You do have sympathy with people, but, ultimately, if that's
0:47:26 > 0:47:30happening in your life, should you be on a road driving a car?
0:47:30 > 0:47:33A tonne lump of metal, at great speeds,
0:47:33 > 0:47:36that can cause a lot of damage to people.
0:47:36 > 0:47:39You're in this one, it's got glass on the front.
0:47:39 > 0:47:42I'll just put some lights on for you, for now.
0:47:42 > 0:47:44The man is going to be placed in a cell,
0:47:44 > 0:47:46whilst the cops make further inquiries.
0:47:46 > 0:47:49- We won't keep you any longer than necessary, OK?- That's fine.
0:47:49 > 0:47:51No, I did wrong, I know.
0:47:51 > 0:47:56- We'll sort it, OK? - All right, thank you.- No bother.
0:47:56 > 0:47:59He's been compliant, no bother at all.
0:47:59 > 0:48:02Just strange behaviour on the road.
0:48:07 > 0:48:1230 miles away, in Thirsk, collision investigator Steve Kirkbright
0:48:12 > 0:48:15is searching for the cause of a fatal motorcycle accident.
0:48:15 > 0:48:18Motorcycle's ended up over there.
0:48:18 > 0:48:22The driver of a Honda was doing a U-turn during bad weather
0:48:22 > 0:48:24when the bike collided.
0:48:24 > 0:48:27Steve is briefing the team, who will help investigate
0:48:27 > 0:48:29if someone was at fault.
0:48:29 > 0:48:31The Honda's just out of sight, bottom right photograph.
0:48:31 > 0:48:33We're trying to paint the picture for them,
0:48:33 > 0:48:35so they know what they're going to deal with.
0:48:35 > 0:48:39No marks on the road surface from the Honda on the left
0:48:39 > 0:48:42of the photograph, going to the right of the photograph,
0:48:42 > 0:48:45which is where the rider and bike end up.
0:48:45 > 0:48:46Until we get to...
0:48:46 > 0:48:51See, there, number one, that's what's left of the glass sunroof.
0:48:51 > 0:48:55I think it comes over the top of the car, lands and slides there.
0:48:55 > 0:48:57Steve needs to unravel
0:48:57 > 0:49:00whether the Honda driver should've seen the bike coming, whether
0:49:00 > 0:49:04the rider was at fault or whether it was a combination of the two.
0:49:05 > 0:49:09The driver was adamant the bike's headlight was off,
0:49:09 > 0:49:11but new evidence has emerged.
0:49:11 > 0:49:14It turned out, a patrol car at the collision,
0:49:14 > 0:49:17further down the road into Harrogate had actually
0:49:17 > 0:49:21caught the motorcycle passing on the onboard camera.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24Which showed the motorcyclist headlight to be on.
0:49:26 > 0:49:29The next thing Steve needs to establish is how clear the driver's
0:49:29 > 0:49:33line of sight was in the direction the bike was approaching from.
0:49:33 > 0:49:36If you consider it's happening here,
0:49:36 > 0:49:41I've extended my plan all the way back here.
0:49:41 > 0:49:44As that Honda's sat looking, you can see,
0:49:44 > 0:49:47you're raised from Harrogate, you can see down to Harrogate.
0:49:49 > 0:49:53We've got a witness that says the motorcyclist had his headlight on.
0:49:53 > 0:49:56Motorcyclist is there to be seen.
0:49:58 > 0:50:02A further examination of the scene by Steve confirmed the rider had
0:50:02 > 0:50:07to be 347 metres away from the Honda before his headlight was
0:50:07 > 0:50:12visible and travelling in excess of 170mph to be
0:50:12 > 0:50:14out of sight of the driver.
0:50:14 > 0:50:18Testing has shown that the manoeuvre undertaken, having done it
0:50:18 > 0:50:24five times, works out with an average time of 4.34 seconds.
0:50:24 > 0:50:29Therefore, the motorcyclist can't travel from out of sight.
0:50:29 > 0:50:31But he was there to be seen.
0:50:31 > 0:50:35He was within the length of road that she could look down
0:50:35 > 0:50:37and have view of.
0:50:37 > 0:50:41Steve's findings will be compared to those of an independent expert,
0:50:41 > 0:50:45to help the court determine if anyone is to blame for the accident.
0:50:47 > 0:50:50One other explanation could be a combination of the rider's
0:50:50 > 0:50:54initial speed and the principle of motion camouflage,
0:50:54 > 0:50:58which may have rendered the rider invisible to the Honda driver.
0:51:01 > 0:51:03As a motorcyclist himself,
0:51:03 > 0:51:06Steve knows the attraction of North Yorkshire's roads.
0:51:08 > 0:51:10I live in Thirsk. If I pull my motorcycle out the garage
0:51:10 > 0:51:13and turn left, I'm in the Dales.
0:51:13 > 0:51:16If I turn right, I've got the North York Moors. It's a pleasure.
0:51:16 > 0:51:18It's the ability to escape.
0:51:18 > 0:51:23But, having worked these roads for 30 years, he also knows the dangers.
0:51:23 > 0:51:26The problem is that there can be unforgiving roads as well.
0:51:26 > 0:51:29In North Yorkshire, I know the history of every bend.
0:51:29 > 0:51:33I'll be prompted by a bunch of flowers, which over a year
0:51:33 > 0:51:37I've watched die and fade and suddenly be replaced by a new bunch.
0:51:37 > 0:51:40And will remember that it's somebody's birthday
0:51:40 > 0:51:43and that that's Mum and Dad have been back to that scene.
0:51:43 > 0:51:47And then watch, over the following year, them die off again.
0:51:47 > 0:51:50The investigation moves to a workshop in Harrogate, where
0:51:50 > 0:51:54he can scour the vehicles involved for clues to the biker's speed.
0:51:54 > 0:51:57Potentially, a contributing factor to the crash.
0:51:57 > 0:51:59We're just going to try and position the motorcycle,
0:51:59 > 0:52:03just for my benefit,
0:52:03 > 0:52:06upright, as it would be when it was ridden.
0:52:06 > 0:52:09And just see if it fits together like a piece of jigsaw.
0:52:09 > 0:52:11It may, it may not.
0:52:11 > 0:52:15Right, drop it down a bit. Drop the back.
0:52:15 > 0:52:17Keep dropping it, Kenny.
0:52:19 > 0:52:21Hold it there!
0:52:25 > 0:52:28Brilliant, thank you.
0:52:28 > 0:52:32It just helps us form a picture of the mechanics of the collision.
0:52:32 > 0:52:36Those last milliseconds, as the two undamaged vehicles come
0:52:36 > 0:52:40together, what makes them end up in this state.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43You think, a tenth of a second before the motorcycle hit
0:52:43 > 0:52:48that car, that car was in perfect condition and so was the motorcycle.
0:52:48 > 0:52:51A tenth of a second after the collision,
0:52:51 > 0:52:53you're looking at that damage there.
0:52:53 > 0:52:55Steve needs to rule out faulty brakes as being
0:52:55 > 0:52:57the cause of the collision.
0:52:57 > 0:52:59If you look at the disc brakes, they're not rusty.
0:52:59 > 0:53:04If you don't use your brakes for a long time,
0:53:04 > 0:53:07it builds up a surface layer of rust.
0:53:07 > 0:53:09The fact that they're clean says to me that the
0:53:09 > 0:53:11brakes have been working.
0:53:11 > 0:53:15The workshop investigation takes a team of three people 12 hours
0:53:15 > 0:53:16to complete.
0:53:16 > 0:53:19But Steve has no doubt about its importance.
0:53:19 > 0:53:22Somebody's died,
0:53:22 > 0:53:26it's got to be investigated as far as we possibly can.
0:53:26 > 0:53:29Because the motorcyclist isn't here to explain what happened
0:53:29 > 0:53:31and what he did.
0:53:31 > 0:53:34It's finding the balance between using science
0:53:34 > 0:53:37and remembering that you're dealing with people's loved ones.
0:53:37 > 0:53:39Anybody in our unit,
0:53:39 > 0:53:44we'll see more violent deaths in a year than the whole of the CID will.
0:53:44 > 0:53:47Just from the nature of the job.
0:53:47 > 0:53:52You have to find a way of being able to go home and deal with that.
0:53:52 > 0:53:55The best evidence Steve has to determined the bike's speed is
0:53:55 > 0:53:58the result of the impact.
0:53:58 > 0:53:59Damage to both the forks.
0:53:59 > 0:54:03The fork rigs are bent backwards towards the engine,
0:54:03 > 0:54:10they're twisted and the wheel's deformed within the lower mounting.
0:54:11 > 0:54:14So, it's all starting to tell a story about the amount
0:54:14 > 0:54:17of force that's been applied to here.
0:54:17 > 0:54:20This is the frame of the motorcycle, this is the main structure.
0:54:20 > 0:54:23Everything else is built around that central frame.
0:54:23 > 0:54:26If you look here, the frame has actually snapped there.
0:54:26 > 0:54:28'I need to look at those cracks and work out
0:54:28 > 0:54:31'whether they've been caused in the impact'
0:54:31 > 0:54:35or whether it was a pre-existing crack, which has led to
0:54:35 > 0:54:40a failure, which has led to the motorcyclist losing control.
0:54:40 > 0:54:42We don't make assumptions.
0:54:42 > 0:54:45It's not that it's rusted and deformed,
0:54:45 > 0:54:47it's been a physical blow that's done it.
0:54:47 > 0:54:51As a rough guide, with a speed limit of 60, somebody travelling at
0:54:51 > 0:54:55or about that speed limit, you might start to get cracks in the frame.
0:54:55 > 0:54:59On this occasion, the motorcycle hasn't only cracked, but had parted.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01As a rule of thumb, within the office,
0:55:01 > 0:55:04if the frame's snapped, it's 60 plus.
0:55:04 > 0:55:0660 mile an hour or thereabouts.
0:55:06 > 0:55:08When you consider that the speed limit on that road
0:55:08 > 0:55:11is 60mph,
0:55:11 > 0:55:14and that the rider may have braked before the impact,
0:55:14 > 0:55:17that would suggest that the approach of the motorcycle
0:55:17 > 0:55:20was in excess of the speed limit.
0:55:20 > 0:55:23So, while Steve's report concludes the motorbike probably
0:55:23 > 0:55:26had its lights on and was there to be seen,
0:55:26 > 0:55:29an alternative explanation, offered by an independent expert,
0:55:29 > 0:55:32suggested the rider was travelling at speed
0:55:32 > 0:55:35and possibly invisible to the Honda driver.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41It's now up to the courts to decide who,
0:55:41 > 0:55:44if anyone, was to blame for this collision.
0:55:44 > 0:55:46But, whatever the verdict,
0:55:46 > 0:55:51there's no undoing what has been a terrible tragedy for all involved.
0:55:51 > 0:55:54What you need to visualise is somebody throwing a pebble
0:55:54 > 0:55:59into a perfectly still pond and the ripples going out to that pond.
0:55:59 > 0:56:02The closer you are to the centre of the pond, if it's your son
0:56:02 > 0:56:05that's been killed in a road accident, the greater effect.
0:56:05 > 0:56:07But the ripples go on.
0:56:07 > 0:56:10This gentleman had work colleagues that he didn't turn up to
0:56:10 > 0:56:16work for, family around the world that have been informed
0:56:16 > 0:56:20in a phone call, partners, friends,
0:56:20 > 0:56:24the driver of the other vehicle.
0:56:24 > 0:56:26It can have massive effects
0:56:26 > 0:56:29and ripples that go on for years and years and years.
0:56:43 > 0:56:45At York Crown Court,
0:56:45 > 0:56:49a jury of 12 found the Honda driver who collided with the motorcyclist
0:56:49 > 0:56:53on the A59 not guilty of causing death by careless driving,
0:56:53 > 0:56:57by a unanimous verdict.
0:56:57 > 0:56:59The occupants of the van that dumped over
0:56:59 > 0:57:03a kilogram of cannabis on the A1 and escaped into Leeds have not
0:57:03 > 0:57:06been identified and are still at large.
0:57:06 > 0:57:09The learner driver who bumped another car close to her home
0:57:09 > 0:57:13on a Scarborough estate was banned from driving for six months
0:57:13 > 0:57:17and fined £110 for driving otherwise in accordance with
0:57:17 > 0:57:20a licence and no insurance.
0:57:20 > 0:57:23And the driver who led the cops on a country lane wild goose chase
0:57:23 > 0:57:26was fined £100 and disqualified for six months,
0:57:26 > 0:57:29for failing to stop and driving without due care.