Man dead and another critical after Peterlee police pursuit
- Published
Father-of-two Lee Stevenson died at the scene
A man has died and another is in a critical condition after a motorbike crashed as it was being pursued by police in County Durham.
The crash in Peterlee happened shortly after 02:30 GMT on Saturday after the bike failed to stop for officers, police said.
The Durham force said Lee Stevenson, 27, who was a passenger on the bike, died at the scene on Passfield Way.
The rider was taken to Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital.
The road was closed for several hours while investigators inspected the site.
Mr Stevenson's family paid tribute to the father of two with his mother, Naomi, describing him as someone who was "hardworking, funny and lived life to the max".
"He thought he was invincible and I wish he had been."
Police said they had been pursuing the motorbike when it crashed on Passfield Way, Peterlee
His auntie Wendy added: "Lee was on the path of sorting his life out and he was the best nephew I could have asked for.
"He lived for his children."
The Independent Office for Police Conduct, which investigates incidents involving police forces, said it had been notified of the crash by Durham Police.
It said it would assess whether any action was necessary.
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