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| Tandem crash car 'being followed' by police | Tandem crash car 'being followed' by police |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A car involved in an apparent hit-and-run with a couple on a tandem bicycle was being followed by police at the time, it has emerged. | A car involved in an apparent hit-and-run with a couple on a tandem bicycle was being followed by police at the time, it has emerged. |
| Ross Simons, 34, and his wife Clare, 30, died at the scene of the incident in Hanham, near Bristol, on Sunday. | Ross Simons, 34, and his wife Clare, 30, died at the scene of the incident in Hanham, near Bristol, on Sunday. |
| The matter has been referred to the police watchdog, the IPCC. | The matter has been referred to the police watchdog, the IPCC. |
| Police arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and a 35-year-old woman, on suspicion of dangerous driving. | Police arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and a 35-year-old woman, on suspicion of dangerous driving. |
| In a statement, the families of the couple said they were "completely devastated". | |
| They added: "A very special couple have been taken from us and we have no words to describe our loss." | |
| Meanwhile friends said the couple had desperately wanted children and had just been given the go-ahead to start IVF treatment. | |
| Avon and Somerset Police said an officer was alerted to a Citroen Picasso travelling along Lower Hanham Road at speed, shortly before 16:00 GMT on Sunday. | Avon and Somerset Police said an officer was alerted to a Citroen Picasso travelling along Lower Hanham Road at speed, shortly before 16:00 GMT on Sunday. |
| 'Lovely family' | 'Lovely family' |
| A spokesman said the officer indicated to the car to stop but it made off. | A spokesman said the officer indicated to the car to stop but it made off. |
| The officer began to follow the car but lost sight of it. | The officer began to follow the car but lost sight of it. |
| Police said that shortly afterwards the car struck another vehicle and then collided with the cyclists. | Police said that shortly afterwards the car struck another vehicle and then collided with the cyclists. |
| They confirmed the Independent Police Complaints Commission was investigating. | They confirmed the Independent Police Complaints Commission was investigating. |
| Friends of Mr and Mrs Simons said they had been married for about 18 months and had been together for several years. | Friends of Mr and Mrs Simons said they had been married for about 18 months and had been together for several years. |
| Diane Pullin, from Kingswood, said she got to know the couple because her son-in-law Darren worked for Mr Simons' father. | Diane Pullin, from Kingswood, said she got to know the couple because her son-in-law Darren worked for Mr Simons' father. |
| "They are a lovely family, so kind and so helpful," she said. | "They are a lovely family, so kind and so helpful," she said. |
| "They don't deserve this. They'd just had news that they were able to have fertility treatment... everything to live for. | "They don't deserve this. They'd just had news that they were able to have fertility treatment... everything to live for. |
| "It's just terrible and it shouldn't have happened. | "It's just terrible and it shouldn't have happened. |
| "Two young people with their lives in front of them... snapped away just like that." | "Two young people with their lives in front of them... snapped away just like that." |
| 'Peas in a pod' | 'Peas in a pod' |
| Mrs Pullin said her daughter Shelley and her husband had been out for a meal on Saturday night with Mr and Mrs Simons. | Mrs Pullin said her daughter Shelley and her husband had been out for a meal on Saturday night with Mr and Mrs Simons. |
| "They desperately wanted children and it wasn't happening," she said. | "They desperately wanted children and it wasn't happening," she said. |
| "They'd just been given the go-ahead. They were so happy on Saturday night. | "They'd just been given the go-ahead. They were so happy on Saturday night. |
| "My daughter says she's got helium balloons at the top of her stairs wishing them luck and she can't even look at them." | "My daughter says she's got helium balloons at the top of her stairs wishing them luck and she can't even look at them." |
| Speaking after laying flowers, family friend Steve Camm said: "They were like two peas in a pod. | Speaking after laying flowers, family friend Steve Camm said: "They were like two peas in a pod. |
| "They were never apart. They could never do enough for anybody. They were caring people. | "They were never apart. They could never do enough for anybody. They were caring people. |
| "They always did random stuff. You could never stop them from having fun." | "They always did random stuff. You could never stop them from having fun." |
| And the Reverend Peter Cook, of Hanham Baptist Church, said the incident had "ripped the community to its heart". | And the Reverend Peter Cook, of Hanham Baptist Church, said the incident had "ripped the community to its heart". |
| He said: "I was just told about it when I was about to start my evening service and I really thought the person telling me was having me on. | He said: "I was just told about it when I was about to start my evening service and I really thought the person telling me was having me on. |
| "We stopped the service and prayed for what was going on - it seemed just so implausible." | |
| Insp Frazer Davey said: "Following investigations overnight the circumstances of this collision have become much clearer. | Insp Frazer Davey said: "Following investigations overnight the circumstances of this collision have become much clearer. |
| "However I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this incident or saw this car in the area shortly before the collision to come forward and contact us." | |