Two elderly residents have died and eight others were hospitalised after a stolen car being pursued by police smashed into a care home in Sunderland. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has concluded its investigation into the "terrifying" incident, placing sole responsibility on the driver of the vehicle.
Details of the High-Speed Pursuit and Collision
The catastrophic event unfolded on the evening of 10 July 2024. A BMW, which had been stolen earlier that day during a test drive in Newcastle, was spotted by officers from Northumbria Police. A pursuit ensued, during which speeds exceeded 100 miles per hour.
The chase came to a devastating end when the stolen vehicle left the road and ploughed into the Highcliffe Care Home in the Witherwack area of Sunderland. The impact caused significant structural damage to the building, including a partial ceiling collapse, forcing the immediate evacuation of all residents.
Aftermath and Official Investigation Findings
Emergency services rushed to the scene. Eight residents were taken to hospital for treatment. Tragically, a woman in her 90s and another in her 80s died a short time after the crash from injuries sustained in the collision.
The IOPC launched an independent investigation into the police pursuit. In a statement released on Wednesday 14 January 2026, IOPC director Emily Barry said, "This must have been a terrifying incident." However, the watchdog's report was unequivocal in its findings.
The investigation determined that the officers involved acted in an "exemplary manner." It judged that the decision to pursue at high speed was justified given the circumstances and stated that the blame for the collision and its tragic consequences lay "solely with the BMW driver."
Justice for the Victims
The driver of the stolen BMW, 21-year-old Sam Asgari-Tabar of no fixed address, was subsequently brought to justice. In November 2025, he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to robbery and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison.
An accomplice, 21-year-old Reece Parish from Fordham Road, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for 19 months. He received an additional 18-month sentence for a separate violent disorder offence during the previous summer's riots. Neither man faced charges directly related to the deaths of the two women.
The community in Sunderland and the families of those affected continue to mourn the loss of the two vulnerable residents in an incident that has left a profound mark on the city.
