A BMW being driven with its lights off evaded police immediately before it was involved in a fatal head-on crash, it has been revealed.

Three people were killed when the gold car collided with a dark blue Peugeot estate on the A17 near Battlefields Lane, at Holbeach, south Lincolnshire, at 0120 GMT.

But immediately before the crash, the BMW driver had evaded a marked police car attempting to stop him for driving without lights, according to Lincolnshire Police.

A spokesman said: "The patrol car requested the BMW to stop but it failed to do so and headed out of Holbeach.

Pronounced dead

"The police car did not pursue the vehicle, reported the fail to stop to superiors and continued normal patrol along the A17."

They then discovered the fatal crash.

The BMW driver, a European man living in Boston, was pronounced dead at the scene.

And a married couple, who were in the Peugeot, were taken to Boston's Pilgrim Hospital for treatment.

Full report

But the husband, who had been transferred to the Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, and his wife, from Spalding, both died from their injuries, according to police.

The police spokesman said the circumstances of the crash were being investigated and a full report would be go to the coroner.

The Police Complaints Authority has also been notified.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the crash to come forward.