A driver fleeing Metropolitan Police officers at high speed on the A12 around midnight on New Year’s Day was eventually arrested after officers rammed his vehicle to end the pursuit, and the suspect then jumped from a bridge into a river below, authorities say.
A Pursuit Reaching More Than Double the Speed Limit
Video released by the Metropolitan Police shows marked patrol vehicles chasing a car traveling roughly 70 mph in a 30 mph zone. Sirens can be heard as officers closed the distance, while a National Police Air Service helicopter provided aerial support overhead. At one point during the pursuit, the suspect drove onto the pavement in an apparent attempt to shake officers off his tail.
Tactical Contact and a Jump Into the River
According to police, tactical contact was authorized given the risk the pursuit posed to other motorists. Footage shows a patrol car making deliberate contact with the suspect’s vehicle to force it to stop. The maneuver disrupted the car’s movement, but the driver got out moments later near a bridge, climbed over the railing, and jumped into the river below, attempting to escape through the water despite the obvious danger of the cold conditions.
A Rope Rescue Turned Arrest
Officers quickly coordinated at the bridge’s edge and deployed a rope to pull the suspect out of the river. He was removed from the freezing water and taken into custody without further incident. Police say the pursuit occurred as officers were working overnight to address dangerous driving and protect the public, and no additional injuries were reported in connection with the chase. The suspect remains in custody as the investigation continues, and any resulting charges have not yet been detailed publicly.