A woman has been killed and two children injured when they were struck by a 4x4 vehicle which was being followed by police.
A police patrol car was pursuing the Jeep Cherokee, which officers say was being driven erratically in Sunderland.
The police driver lost sight of the vehicle as it made its way through side streets, but was directed by members of the public to St Luke's Road where a woman and two children were lying in the street.
The Jeep had been abandoned by the driver, who had disappeared from the scene, Northumbria Police said.
It appeared the group were hit by the Jeep while they were on the pavement.
All three victims were taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital where the woman, 32, was pronounced dead on arrival.
One of the children received serious leg injures, while the other child's injuries were not thought to be life threatening.
The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission because the Jeep was being followed by a patrol car before the collision.
Assistant Chief Constable Sue Sym said: "A full investigation is now under way into all the circumstances leading up to this crash and extensive inquiries are being carried out to trace the driver of the Jeep."
