Child found on passenger's KNEE as Audi going 150mph smashes into lamppost

A reckless driver reached speeds of 150mph while a three-year-old child was sat on a passenger's KNEE before ploughing into a lamppost.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police began following the Audi A3 along Bury New Road in Heywood on Tuesday evening (May 14). A high-speed chase followed after the driver failed to stop, at around 6.57pm.

The Audi was driven through Rochdale, towards Whitworth and then back into Rochdale again, reaching speeds of 150mph before smashing into a lamppost on Bentley Street at around 7.10pm.

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The driver, a man, and his passenger, also a man, were both arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and possession with intent to supply class B drugs after officers also uncovered cannabis inside the car.

During the pursuit, a three-year-old child was inside the vehicle sat on the passenger's knee. A dog was also inside the speeding Audi at the time. No injuries were reported in the collision.

The child has since been taken into police protection, GMP confirmed, with the dog seized for its own protection and the car also taken away by officers. Inspector Richard Shelton, of our Rochdale district, said: "This is extremely dangerous levels of offending and I'm thankful to report that no one was hurt during this pursuit.

"The reckless actions of these offenders have put a three-year-old child at risk, as well as members of the public going about their daily business. The speeds reached are beyond unacceptable and I am pleased that our officers acted swiftly to secure these arrests, bring the child into police protection and seize the vehicle."

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