A POLICE watchdog has launched an appeal for witnesses as it attempts to shed light into the circumstance surrounding Marlon Vella’s death.

Mr Vella was killed in a crash on Primsland Way in Droitwich on Monday, (April 27), after the Yamaha scooter he had been riding crashed into a tree.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has now released a statement asking for witnesses to come forward to its investigators, and provided details of what took place after the crash that happened at 4pm on Monday.

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The 21-year-old was travelling in the same direction as a West Mercia Police vehicle that was responding to an emergency call in Worcester. West Mercia Police has previously said Mr Vella was travelling ahead of the marked police car when his scooter crashed, the police car then stopped and an ambulance was called, but the Worcester businessman was pronounced dead at the scene.

In the statement the IOPC said, after being notified by West Mercia Police, it sent investigators to the scene on Monday evening to begin gathering information and to monitor the police post-incident procedure, at which the officer driving gave an initial witness account. It said it also “undertook a trawl for relevant CCTV footage”.

The force had also said the matter had been referred to the IOPC, which investigates the most serious road traffic incidents involving death and serious injury where police vehicles are being driven in the proximity, as was standard practice.

Derrick Campbell, IOPC regional director, said: “Our thoughts are with Mr Vella’s family and friends and all of those affected by this tragic incident. There were a number of other road-users around on Primsland Way at the time and we would be grateful if any witnesses could come forward to assist with our independent investigation. Owing to the proximity of the police car at the time Mr Vella’s scooter crashed it is appropriate that we establish the full circumstances.”

To contact IOPC investigators call 0800 029 4686 or email primslandway@policeconduct.gov.uk. Any witnesses can also call call West Mercia Police on 101, quoting incident number 419s of April 27.

Tributes poured in for Mr Vella this week, including from his sister, Nataya Vella, who wrote on social media: “This is not goodbye Marlon, because you will be with me forever”.