Boy, 11, in critical condition after being struck by police van

An 11-year-old boy is thought to be in a critical condition after he was struck by a police van in Lancaster on Thursday night.

Lancashire Police were attending an emergency call in a marked police van with lights and sirens on when the collision occurred. Police say the boy was attempting to cross Owen Road, just before 8.30pm on Thursday (May 25).

The boy was rushed to Royal Lancaster Infirmary in a critical condition. The force said their 'thoughts are with the child's loved ones' and confirmed the incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community

A Lancashire Constabulary spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with the child’s loved ones at this time. An investigation is underway to establish the full circumstances that led to the collision. We have voluntarily referred this matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), as is standard with an incident of this nature.”

In a statement, The IOPC said: "The IOPC has declared an independent investigation into the actions of Lancashire Police prior to a road traffic collision in Owen Road, Lancaster at around 8.30pm on 25 May, in which a child has been injured.

"We understand that a marked police van, with its lights and sirens on, was in a collision with an 11-year-old boy. He has been taken to hospital and our thoughts are with him and his family.

"We were notified by the force shortly after the collision and declared an investigation at 10.37pm. IOPC investigators are heading to the scene and the police post incident procedure to begin gathering information.

"Our investigation is at an early stage."

READ NEXT:

'I was forcibly restrained and injected with