A driver who was shot dead by armed police after a crash was seen pointing a handgun at a girl before fleeing the scene by running through a housing estate. 

Witnesses said they saw the man brandishing a gun following the collision between a car and a Mercedes van on London Road in Thetford, Norfolk, at 8.25pm on Sunday. 

Armed response officers swooped on the scene and the suspect, believed to be in his 60s, was later shot half a mile from the crash. He died at the scene. 

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has since launched an investigation into the shooting. 

It remains unclear whether the two drivers involved in the crash were known to each other. 

Witnesses said they saw the man brandishing a gun following the collision between a car and a Mercedes van in Thetford, Norfolk, at 8.25pm on Sunday. Image from the scene 

Police said one man, believed to be the driver of one of the vehicles, left the scene holding what was described as a handgun. He was shot and died at the scene

According to The Sun, witnesses claim to have seen the man ‘point a gun at a girl’ before running through a nearby housing estate. 

Yesterday, the IOPC said ‘two shots were fired by police’, adding that what appears to be a non-police-issue firearm was recovered from the scene. 

IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: ‘Fatal police shootings are rare, however when they do occur it’s essential that an independent investigation is carried out into the actions and decision-making of the officers involved.

‘Our investigation is in its initial stages and we are in the process of obtaining and reviewing evidence as we begin to piece together the circumstances surrounding this incident.’

The busy A11 passes through retail parks, fast food restaurants and an industrial estate where people work through the night.

There are no roads leading off the housing estate directly opposite the cemetery and no roads leading off the London Road directly either side of the cemetery.

An aerial image shows the scene of the A11 dual carriageway near Thetford, where a suspected gunman was shot dead by police after a crash

Officers were called to London Road (pictured) at around 8.25pm on Sunday after receiving reports of a two-vehicle collision

Assistant Chief Constable David Buckley from Norfolk Police added: ‘We understand this incident will cause concern in the community. 

‘Our highly trained armed officers deploy to hundreds of firearms related calls each year, but incidents where police discharge firearms are thankfully incredibly rare.

‘A full and independent investigation is already underway.

‘We are of course cooperating fully with the IOPC investigation and will be handing over all bodyworn footage and 999 calls to ensure transparency.

‘We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.’