Moment e-bike rider is followed by cop car before horror smash which left boy rider, 15, dead

EXCLUSIVE – Moment e-bike rider is followed by cop car before horror smash which left boy, 15, dead – as his devastated family pay tribute to ‘much-loved son’ and watchdog launches probe into crash Saul Cookson, 15, died when his e-bike crashed into an ambulance in Salford By Rory Tingle, Home Affairs Correspondent and Dimple Mistry and Alex Mason For Mailonline Published: 15:30, 9 June 2023 | Updated: 16:59, 9 June 2023 e-mail 66 View comments This is the moment police trailed a 15-year-old e-bike rider just before he was killed in a horror crash. Saul Cookson died after he struck the front of a moving ambulance on his Sur-Ron e-bike just after 2pm in Salford yesterday – a month after two teenagers were killed after being followed by a police van in Cardiff while riding the same brand. Today his family paid tribute to ‘the sweetest, kindest boy ever’ after the incident which has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for investigation.

Exclusive CCTV footage obtained by MailOnline shows a cyclist riding down Fitzwarren Street at 14. 01pm. A police BMW X5 squad car is then seen following behind four seconds later at what appears to be medium speed.

The police car then goes on to follow Saul down Lower Seedley Road before it was blocked off by bollards. Greater Manchester Police said the teenager crashed into an ambulance on Langworthy Road ‘a short time later’. Today, the North West Ambulance Service said the vehicle was going back to base and wasn’t on ‘blue light’ duty at the time of the collision.

It comes as family paid tribute to the schoolboy, with his mother Emma Frendo saying: ‘Saul was a much-loved son, brother, grandson, and nephew, loved by all that met him. He was the sweetest, kindest boy ever, and always had the biggest infectious smile and was full of love. ‘ Saul Cookson, 15, died after he struck the front of the moving ambulance.

Exclusive footage obtained by MailOnline shows Saul riding along Fitzwarren Street on the e-bike at 14. 01pm A police squad car is then seen following behind him four seconds later – travelling at what appears to be medium speed Saul Cookson, 15, was killed when his electric bike crashed into an ambulance in Salford. This photo was released by his family today Messages at the scene say ‘rest in peace my bro’, ‘fly high’, ‘shining bright up there’ and ‘forever 15’.

A white sheet hung on a railing was also covered in written tributes, while a cardboard sign pinned up beside it read: ‘Kids on bikes – don’t kill. ‘ Saul’s sister said on Facebook: ‘Words cannot describe my feelings at the moment. Rest in peace Saul, I love you.

‘Just so crazy how it happened. In one blink he was gone. He was way too young and shouldn’t have gone at 15.

He was seriously my best friend and brother in one. Even though he did annoy me we had the best memories and will never be forgotten. ‘I’m so proud to call you MY brother and you will always be in my mind and by my side.

‘Such a cruel world and how fast it happened. I was literally just talking to my mum and it just happened in one blink after all the good memories and I wish we could’ve made more but all of them are still in my heart. Rest easy Saul.

‘ The teenager died a short time after being rushed to hospital following the crash This map shows Langworthy Road in Salford, Greater Manchester, where the crash took place Traffic officers had been following the boy since 2pm but were prevented from continuing the trail by bollards. Pictured is the parked ambulance struck by Saul The IOPC is investigating the incident and a cordon remained in place on Langworthy Road in Salford yesterday Mourners today laid flowers near to where 15-year-old Saul Cookson died in an e-bike crash Messages at the scene say ‘rest in peace my bro’, ‘fly high’, ‘shining bright up there’ and ‘forever 15’ Floral tributes were tied to lampposts and candles lit in the teenager’s memory Saul’s cousin, Jack Pennington, wrote: ‘Everyone who knew Saul knew he was the nicest lad about, had a good heart, polite and have you like no tomorrow. ‘Can’t believe I’m writing this, no other word describes it other than shock.

Don’t feel real in the slightest one of the best lads you could meet and I feel lucky to have called you my cousin. ‘Had some good times growing up. .

. can’t believe that’s just it. Shows what a cruel world we’re living in.

Miss you forever my brother. Can’t say goodbye just see you later my mate love you RIP Saul my brother. ‘ A relative of the boy, who attended the scene to lay flowers, said the family was ‘a mess’ following the news.

Family friend Jacob Bailey, 19, said: ‘I’ve known Saul since he was born. He was just one of those proper nice kids. No one had a bad word to say about Saul.

‘I just don’t believe it. He had so much to live for and in the blink of an eye it’s just all. .

. 15 is no age is it. ‘ A GoFundMe page has been set up in a bid to raise £2,000 for his funeral, which had raised more than £1,100 by Friday morning.

Officers at the scene of the crash on Langworthy Road, Salford, yesterday afternoon 15-year-old Saul died after smashing into an ambulance Greater Manchester Police: ‘In line with normal proceedings, the incident has been referred to the IOPC who are now leading the investigation. ‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the boy who tragically died. ‘ The IOPC said it was ‘independently investigating the circumstances of a serious collision involving an e-bike and an ambulance in Salford’.

‘Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones, as well as all those affected by this tragedy,’ its spokesman said. ‘We were notified by Greater Manchester Police due to the fact a police vehicle had been following the e-bike shortly before the collision. ‘We have sent investigators to the scene of the collision, at the junction of Langworthy Road and Lower Seedley Road, as well as to the police post-incident procedures, to begin gathering evidence.

‘ He added the IOPC would provide ‘further details once we are in a position to do so’. Floral tributes have been left near a police cordon by the scene of the crash The North West Ambulance Service said: ‘We can confirm that an ambulance was involved in a collision with a young person, who was riding an electric bike, on Langworthy Road in Salford at around two o’clock this afternoon. ‘The patient received medical treatment immediately by the ambulance crew and was transported to hospital, where he sadly later died.

We are participating fully in the police investigation. ‘We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the young person’s family. ‘ It comes after 15-year-old Harvey Evans and 16-year-old Kyrees Sullivan were killed in an e-bike collision after being followed by a police van in Cardiff last month, sparking a riot in the aftermath.

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