West Yorkshire Police investigated over motorbike death of boy

The police watchdog is investigating after a teenage boy died after falling off a motorbike.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said Logan Stead, 16, was riding along Eastbourne Terrace in Pontefract on 13 July when he came off the bike and died at the scene.

West Yorkshire Police said a 13-year-old boy who was also on the motorbike was uninjured. He was arrested after the crash on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

An IOPC spokesperson said: “Our investigation will be looking at the circumstances in the lead-up to the collision.”

The IOPC said the bike had been spotted by West Yorkshire Police officers shortly before the crash at 17:00 BST.

They “had concerns about the age of the boys” and had turned around to catch up to the motorbike once it had travelled past them in the opposite direction.

The IOPC said there was no pursuit of the vehicle by officers before the crash.

A spokesperson said: “As soon as WYP notified us of the incident, IOPC investigators went to the collision scene to begin gathering information.

“We declared an independent investigation on the same evening.”

IOPC director of engagement Emily Barry said: “Firstly, my thoughts and condolences are with the family of Logan and all those who have been affected by this tragic incident.

“We have contacted Logan’s family to explain our role and we will continue to update them as our inquiries progress.

“There is a mandatory requirement for forces to refer to us incidents like this, which result in death or serious injury, and our investigation will thoroughly examine the circumstances of the police involvement, including whether appropriate policies and procedures were followed.

“Whilst our investigation is in the early stages, investigators are in the process of obtaining accounts from the officers involved and working with the force to secure all available footage related to the incident.”