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Married couple killed in crash while fleeing police were not present at burglary, it is confirmed

Patrick McDonagh and his pregnant wife Shauna were killed in a crash on the A40
Patrick McDonagh and his pregnant wife Shauna were killed in a crash on the A40

A pregnant teenager and her husband who died in a car smash were not involved in an aggravated burglary which led the police to chase them, it has emerged.

Newlywed teens, Patrick McDonagh, 19, and his wife Shauna, 18, were killed on Sunday night when the Renault Scenic they were travelling crashed into a coach on the wrong side of the A40 dual carriageway in west London.

Another man who was travelling in the car sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital.

Police began chasing the car following reports that the occupants had taken part in an aggravated burglary at a residential address in the Harrow area.

Officers gave chase for around ten minutes before calling off the pursuit shortly before the fatal crash.

But a spokesman for the Independent Office for Police Conduct said initial investigations had confirmed that Mr and Mrs McDonagh were not been involved in the burglary, suggesting police had been following the wrong car.

The couple died following a police pursuit in west London - Credit: Nigel Howard
The couple died following a police pursuit in west London Credit: Nigel Howard

It is not clear why the McDonaghs did not pull over when the police began chasing, but that is expected to form part of the investigation.

The spokesman said: "It is understood that police were pursuing the car, a Renault Scenic, for about 10 minutes but terminated the pursuit prior to the crash.

"A National Police Air Service helicopter was monitoring the progress of the Renault when it crashed.

"It has now been confirmed, as part of a separate police investigation, that the occupants of the Renault were not present at the time of an aggravated burglary reported to have taken place in Harrow.

"The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation will examine the information the police had and the rationale for the pursuit."

The scene on the A40 close to the scene of the fatal accident
The scene on the A40 close to the scene of the fatal accident

Police were called to reports of a violent burglary taking place just after 8pm on Sunday evening in the Harrow area of north west London.

The reports suggested a homeowner had been threatened by three raiders, one carrying a Rambo style hunting knife and a screwdriver.

The burglars made off after stealing cash and jewellery and up to 10 patrol cars and a helicopter were involved in the chase.

After around ten minutes, the Renault Scenic they had been following smashed through railings onto the wrong side of the A40 and hit a coach.

Mr and Mrs McDonagh and her unborn child were pronounced dead at the scene, while the second man in the car was taken to hospital.

The couple, who lived in Edgware, north London, were married in November and were expecting a baby girl in April.

IOPC regional director Jonathan Green said: “My thoughts are with the families and friends of Patrick and Shauna, those injured and all those affected by this incident.

“It is important that we now establish all of the circumstances surrounding this collision.

“We have therefore launched an independent investigation into the events leading to the collision and immediately deployed our investigators to attend the scene and the post incident procedure.”