Man hospitalised after firing crossbow into his head during police pursuit

Police said the man discharged the crossbow which caused him to suffer a serious head injury

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A man is in a stable condition in hospital after accidentally firing a crossbow into his head during a police pursuit in Lancashire.

According to local press reports the man was spotted with a crossbow by a police officer in a vehicle at 2.30am on Beacon Fell, Lancashire.

The officer retreated to a safe distance at which point the man drove off at speed, Lancashire Police said.

He was stopped and confronted by police on the link road between the M55 and the M6 near Preston at around 3.30am.

Police said the man then discharged the crossbow which caused him to suffer a serious head injury.

He was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where he is currently in a stable condition.

Lancashire Police said: “At 2.30am on Tuesday 1 July, a police officer came across a man in a vehicle on Beacon Fell who was in possession of a crossbow."

“The officer retreated to a safe distance at which point the man drove off at speed."

“The vehicle was pursued by police and was eventually stopped on the M55 eastbound link to the M6 southbound around 3.30am."

“The man then discharged the crossbow which caused him to suffer a serious head injury. He was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where he is currently in a stable condition.”

The motorway was closed until around 7.45am today.