Should I contact police to tell them I was overtaken on a 60mph road about 120mph - and then there was a crash?

[squashedbananasagain]

Last night I was driving home through a national park. It's a 60mph limit road but was very dark, (unlit road), the road service isn't great and the white lines are patchy and faded. There are also lots of deer about and there are often crashes, so I was going at 50 miles an hour.

One car passed me at about 63/64mph and then shortly afterwards a car came from nowhere, and overtook me way faster; a car has never overtaken me so fast on a 60mph road before. He flew past both me the car in front of me (that was still doing 63/64mph from overtaking me). He then cut in front of that car because there was something coming the other way. The speed in which he was going was so fast that it actually made me gasp and my hand flew to my mouth - and I am not a gasper. . His numberplate was obscured at the back so I couldn't tell what it was and he was going so fast that you couldn't see anything much else except that it was a black saloon.

About 15 minutes later on the same road everything came to a stop. Local news reports have reported that not only was there a multi car crash, but there was also a separate incident whereby a car was burnt out in a layby on the same road very close by.

My dilemma is: do I do anything? Do I ring the police? What can I tell them if I do that's of any use? The only thing I can tell them is that a car drove past me extremely fast and dangerously but that I don't have a number plate, I don't have the car type, or see the driver or occupants. Nor do I know that the cars involved in the multi car crash or in the fire were the same car. It's just a coincidence and based on a strong suspicion that a car driving that dangerously would shortly be involved in a crash.

Would the police actually be interested with this information and would it ever be of any use - or shall I just leave it? I worry that this driver has hurt other people and will try and blame them for bad driving whereas, he was driving atrociously beforehand and people need to know that.

100%

Call 101.

Most forces have an online report form but you may struggle to fill it in with limited info. For lancs it's a one size fits all form that obviously doesn't fit all.

You could ring 101 or look up the community police officer for that covers the area and send them an email it helps build a picture of where there are issues.

Yes. There are sometimes appeals for information/footage of a vehicle before a crash.

I would, the advice in Police appeals is usually to come forward if you think you were in the area a crime took place. If you can give a rough time and place then it may help them narrow down where to look for CCTV or prompt other drivers to check their dashcam footage.

Why would you not?

It is when we keep our mouths shut, awful things happen. We are too embarrassed to contact the police about neighbours-extremists, we are too embarrassed to ask a child, being dragged down the street - little one, do you know the man/woman who is dragging you or do you want me to contact the police? We are too timid to open our mouths and report to the police, authorities, etc.

Tell them, but make it clear from the start that you don't know the number plate, couldn't identify the driver and aren't even sure about the type of car (eg couldn't be certain whether it was a BMW or an Audi for example). Tell them what you know and don't get into discussions about any details you're unsure about.

I witnessed a similar crash and it led to being interviewed by both parties insurance companies multiple times including by an investigator who was an ex police officer who picked apart my version of events because it contradicted the person who I said caused the crash who was driving dangerously and lying to get out of it.

Even telling them the colour or style (saloon, 4x4 etc) of the car could help them.

Yes, you can easily report it online on their website and type in everything you noticed. You can give your contact number and if they want to talk further they might call you. For the sake of 15 mins and being a good citizen I'd get it off your chest.

In my area you can fill in an online form for something like that and then they contact you if they want further information

You just call 101 or report online. Do not call 999.

Of course you should.

Have a look on the social media (x, although I hate to use it) for the police in your area - there will most likely be an appeal for witnesses. They will tell you who to contact.

Just call non emergency number

Tell them, although it's possible it was a Police Car in pursuit.

There will be a serious car collision team, you can contact 101 or online through the contact form and they will get it to the right people.

They'll be able to use your information to place the car and possibly use CCTV to identify it before the accident.

And that’s the only response you need.

This.
All it will cost you is your time and if you can give specific timings of what you observed all the better. It will help the investigating team build up a more precise picture of what happened

You often see “if anyone has information on this crash…” signs so yes definitely report it.

You could log it online and then they can decide what to do with it. If a black saloon was involved in the crash it'll be useful to them. Or if one caused a crash then drove off

Please do call them, a dark saloon type car is enough information plus the speeding.

I wouldn't unless you've got the number plate as you can’t be sure that was the car which crashed

OP doesn't know the registration of the car which passed her so she doesn't know whether it was that car which crashed. So I wouldn't bother personally. OP doesn't even know the make & model

Any information could be useful to the police. There may be other witnesses and taking a few statements together could help establish what happened.

OP yes of course you should report it.

You should absolutely tell them. Usually there is a phone number or reference number for witnesses after a serious accident. Have a look online to see if you can find them.