Officers 'had to make own judgement' on pursuit of vehicle which crashed and killed Oldbury teen Benjamin Hopton
Police officers who pursued a car driven by Oldbury teenager Benjamin Hopton which eventually crashed and killed him have said they didn't have full authorisation for the chase.
But they say the incident lasted such a short time that although they radioed colleagues in the control room, the incident happened too quickly for them to get authorisation and they had to use their own judgment.
Benjamin Hopton, aged 17, was killed when the Honda he was driving failed to stop for police and hit a tree on Coombs Road near the junction with Amber Way, Halesowen. in the early hours of January 5 last year.
The second day of the full inquest into his death opened with harrowing footage being played of the moment the car faltered and then left the road.
The jury heard evidence from three officers who were involved in the pursuit, which lasted less than three minutes. All of them said they made the decision to pursue the Honda as they suspected the occupants may have been involved in the the earlier theft of a stolen Mercedes which was recovered in Britannia Road, Rowley Regis.
