The police watchdog has started an investigation into a police chase, which began minutes before a fatal crash.
The collision happened in the early hours of Thursday 9 January 2025 on the Junction 30 eastbound exit slip road of the M4 in Cardiff.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has now launched an independent investigation into the involvement of South Wales Police.
Modecai Juma, 51, had previously failed to stop for officers, and a police pursuit began at 3.24am, the IOPC said in a statement.
The watchdog said it was notified by the force as officers had been pursuing Mr Juma’s Honda Accord at the time of the incident.
Mr Juma was travelling eastbound on the M4 and the crash happened at 3.30am after he took the exit lane towards Cardiff Gate.
He received medical assistance by officers but Mr Juma died at the scene just after 4am.
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The IOPC’s initial investigation has established that the driver of the Honda Accord was reported for failing to stop for police at 1.42am, and police had concerns about the way in which the car was being driven.
Shortly after 3am, officers were alerted to the vehicle again and a police pursuit was authorised.
The IOPC’s deputy director of investigations, Catherine Bates, said the watchdog’s thoughts were with Mr Juma’s family and it would “continue to update them” as its enquiries progressed.
“While our investigation is in the early stages, investigators have already conducted CCTV enquiries and have obtained initial accounts from the officers involved,” she added.
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A spokesperson for South Wales Police said the force “made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as is normal procedure following such incidents”.
In a statement at the time of the collision, a spokesperson said the driver’s family would receive support from specialist family liaison officers.
A post-mortem has been carried out and an inquest was opened and adjourned at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court on Friday.
