A woman has died after a car hit a wall after suspects fled a supermarket burglary in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Police were called at 4.21am yesterday to a report of a burglary at Waitrose in Prospect Road, Hythe.

As officers were travelling to the scene, a car believed to be connected to the incident was seen heading in the opposite direction.

A short time later it collided with a wall in Castle Hill Avenue in Folkestone and the force has since made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to investigate the incident.

When asked if the crash was as a result of a pursuit or controlled stop, police did not confirm.

An IOPC spokesperson said: “We have begun an investigation into the actions of Kent Police officers prior to a fatal road traffic incident in Castle Hill Avenue in Folkestone on 9 December at about 4.30am.

“The collision involved one vehicle. Tragically a woman in her 30s died, while two others sustained injuries.

“Our investigation follows a mandatory referral from Kent Police and is in its early stages.”

A 34-year-old woman who was a passenger in the car suffered serious injuries.

She was pronounced dead at the scene and her next of kin have now been informed.

Two other passengers also suffered serious injuries, including a man in his 30s who remains in a critical condition.

A second man, whose age and identity are currently unknown, is in a serious but stable condition.

He has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and causing death by dangerous driving.

The area around Sandgate Road was closed for several hours yesterday while police dealt with the incident.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any evidence including residential CCTV or dashcam footage is asked to call Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538 quoting reference 09-0305, or email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk.

You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.