A 19-year-old man died today after becoming trapped under a police car in a stream in Whiteabbey, Co Antrim.
The Police Ombudsman has been called in to investigate the incident which occurred in the early hours of this morning.
A spokesman said the police vehicle had followed a white Fiat Toledo from Carrickfergus into a wooded area known as the Glen at around 1am.
As they entered the wooded area four men, including the 19-year-old, got out of the car and ran off, followed by police.
It appears their vehicle then went over a bank into the stream, known as The Three Mile, hitting the teenager.
The body and the police car were later recovered from the water as police, fire and ambulance crews rushed to the scene.
Everyone involved in the incident has been identified and will be questioned. "We will carry out a full independent and impartial investigation and search for evidence which will tell us exactly what happened," the spokesman said.
"We have conducted a forensic analysis of the scene and are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact us."
Detectives are particularly keen to speak to a taxi driver who saw the white Fiat leave the nearby Fortfield Garage shortly before the accident.
The victim's family, are said to be understandably shocked. A post mortem will be carried out this afternoon.