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Man Charged After Girl's Car Chase Death

Police have charged a 32-year-old man with causing death by dangerous driving and other offences over a fatal collison which followed a police chase.

A 13-year-old girl died in the crash on Sunday, which involved a car being pursued by police in southeast London.

Devon Newell, from Peckham in southeast London, has been charged with five offences including causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and failing to stop for police.

He is also facing charges of failing to stop at the scene of an accident and driving without insurance or a license.

He is due to appear in Camberwell Green Magistrates Court onnTuesday via video link.

The teenage girl was travelling with her mother, father and brother when their Volkswagen Polo collided with a Peugeot 308 being chased by a marked police car.

The girl was in the rear of the Polo and died at the scene from her injuries, Scotland Yard said. Her parents and brother were taken to hospital. Their injuries were not thought to be serious.

The crash happened just before 6.30pm on Sunday in Ilderton Road, between New Cross and South Bermondsey and close to Millwall Football Club's stadium.

The Metropolitan Police said the chase began when the Peugeot triggered a "positive hit" on the police car's automatic number plate recognition system. The force said the police car involved had its blue lights and sirens on when the collision happened.

Commander Tony Eastaugh said: "An innocent family are now dealing with the tragic loss of a loved one.

"The Metropolitan Police has now begun a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this terrible incident. The thoughts of our staff and officers are with the family at this time."

Traffic police and officers from the Directorate of Professional Standards are now investigating, the force said.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has also been informed and an investigator has begun assessing the circumstances of the collision.