A46 closed following police pursuit

A man has suffered serious injuries after a collision on the A46 following a police pursuit of a suspected stolen van.

Leicestershire Police say officers from the Roads Policing Unit attempted to stop a white Mercedes van, which had been reported stolen, at around 4.10am today (Monday).

The driver failed to stop and, after the van was spotted again a short time later, a police pursuit was authorised.

At around 4.40am, the van was seen travelling from the M1 onto the A46 on the wrong side of the carriageway before colliding with a blue BMW 1 Series.

Emergency services, including Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and the East Midlands Ambulance Service, attended the scene.

The driver of the BMW, a man in his 20s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Police say he remains in a stable condition.

A 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of dangerous driving, driving while unfit through drink or drugs, and theft of a motor vehicle. He was taken to hospital as a precaution and is not believed to have suffered any serious injuries.

The southbound carriageway of the A46 remains closed between the A50 roundabout and Junction 21a of the M1 while officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit carry out enquiries.

As is standard procedure following a collision during a police pursuit, Leicestershire Police's Professional Standards Department has been informed and the incident will be referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information is asked to contact Leicestershire Police on 101, quoting incident 91 of 29 June.