A YOUNG mother has died after being struck by a suspected stolen car in Belfast today.
UTV reports that the car was being pursued by police before it crashed on the Ballysillan Road in North Belfast at around 11am.
A 39-year-old man was arrested at the scene.
The victim is believed to be in her 30s and the mother of two young children.
PSNI Superintendent Melanie Jones said: “Firstly, I would like to offer our sincere condolences to the woman’s family.”
She added that the suspected stolen vehicle, an Audi A6, failed to stop despite a stinger device being deployed.
“As the car then travelled onto the Antrim road, in line with procedure designed to bring a vehicle to a controlled stop, other trained officers deployed a ‘stinger’ device,” said Supt Jones.
“However, the driver of the stolen vehicle failed to stop.
“After following at a distance, due to concerns about the dangerous manner in which the stolen car was being driven, specially trained police officers ended their pursuit, handing over to the police helicopter.”
The Police Ombudsman confirmed that its investigators had attended the scene.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express our sympathies to the family and friends of the woman who died,” said a spokesperson for the office.
