Probe into 'death' of man who fell from bridge during police chase

Dean Wood: The 21-year-old is presumed dead.

The police watchdog is to investigate the presumed death of a man who fell from the Clackmannanshire Bridge after being chased by an armed response vehicle.

The Crown office has instructed the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) to look into the circumstances that led to Dean Wood entering the River Forth in the early hours of November 13.


Mr Wood, 21, from Sauchie in Stirlingshire, was driving a van when a police vehicle tried to him pull him over at around 2.50am.

It is understood the police armed response vehicle was travelling in the area for another matter and spotted his blue Ford Transit van travelling with only three wheels.

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When they signalled him to stop, it is believed Mr Wood crashed into a barrier on the bridge, before getting out of the vehicle and climbing over the safety railings.

Mr Wood was then seen falling from the bridge and entering the water.

He has not been seen since and has not made any contact with friends or family.

An extensive search of the waters by the coastguard and police in the days after Mr Wood fell from the bridge failed to find any sign of him.


A statement from his family, released the day after the incident, said: "We are all totally devastated by the events of Friday morning and along with friends and relatives are hoping and praying for news of Dean.

"Dean is a likeable, good-natured young man with a zest for life and a good sense of humour."

A statement from Pirc said: "The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has instructed the Pirc to carry out an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the presumed death of Dean Wood, 21, who had contact with police prior to an incident on the Clackmannanshire bridge, Kincardine, on November 13, 2015.

"It was reported the 21-year-old was driving a van when it left the road and collided with the structure of the bridge.

"Accounts of the incident suggest he then climbed over the bridge barrier and dropped out of view.

"A report on the commissioner's findings will be submitted to the Crown Office in due course."

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