A 25-year-old man triggered a high-speed police chase after stealing an Amazon delivery van in Wigan. The pursuit ended in Chorley after the driver reached speeds of 100 mph and injured a cyclist.
A 100mph pursuit from Wigan to Chorley
The incident began around 6 :23 pm on Wednesday when a suspect stole an Amazon delivery van in Wigan, Greater Manchester. According to the report,the 25-year-old driver led officers on a 40-minute high-speed chase that spanned two regions, eventually terminating in Chorley, Lancashire. During the pursuit, the suspect reached speeds of up to 100 mph, ignoring multiple police attempts to stop the vehicle without a direct chase.
The pursuit concluded when the stolen Amazon van collided with a stationary car in Chorley. Greater Manchester Police officers were able to apprehend the suspect immediately following the crash, bringing an end to a sequence of events that had put numerous road users at risk.
The injured cyclist and £1,000 in stolen parcels
The stolen Amazon vehicle was not empty; it was carrying approximately £1,000 worth of parcels at the time of the theft. As the suspect fled through the streets, the vehicle caused significant damage to street furniture and resulted in a cyclist sustaining injuries. While the report notes that the physical injuries were "minor," the potential for a fatal encounter was high given the speeds involved.
PC Nat Mannyng of the Greater Manchester Police transport unit emphasized that the driver showed a "complete disregard for public safety." The damage to public infrastructure and the injury to the cyclist highlight the volatility of using a heavy delivery vehicle as a getaway car in desnely populated areas .
Class A and C drug charges following the crash
Upon his arrest, the 25-year-old suspect faced a litany of charges. As reported, he is suspected of theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, and failure to stop. Furthermore, the suspect is accused of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and being in possession of both Class A and Class C drugs.
The presence of narcotics suggests that the brazen theft of the Amazon van may have been fueled by substance abuse rather than a coordinated professional heist. The suspect has since been released on bail while Greater Manchester Police continue their inquiries into the incident.
The 40-minute risk to residential families
This incident reflects a worrying trend of opportunistic thefts targeting delivery fleets, which often leave vehicles idling or unattended for short bursts in residential neighborhoods. By utilizing a high-visibility Amazon van, the suspect turned a common sight of suburban life into a weapon of chaos. PC Nat Mannyng noted that the 100 mph speeds were reached specifically through residential streets where families and pedestrians were present.
Such events echo a broader pattern of "smash-and-grab" or opportunistic vehicle thefts seen across the UK, where the perceived ease of accessing delivery vans makes them prime targets for individuals under the influence of controlled substances. The risk to the public is amplified when these vehicles are driven recklessly through narrow residential corridors.
The legal status of the bailed 25-year-old
Despite the severity of the 100 mph chase and the injury to a third party, the suspect remains on bail. this leaves several critical questions unanswered: what specific controlled substance was the driver under the influence of, and what are the current medical conditions of the injured cyclist? Additionally, it remains unclear if the £1,000 worth of Amazon parcels were recovered intact or if any were discarded during the 40-minute flight.
The report provides the perspective of the Greater Manchester Police but does not include statements from the injured cyclist or Amazon regarding the security of their delivery fleet in the Wigan area.
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