A 26-YEAR-OLD woman died yesterday when her car crashed into a wall after police arrived to check reports of a house disturbance.

Police said the woman drove off in a Vauxhall Vectra and hit a marked police car, causing minor damage to both vehicles, as she left the street.

Officers in two other police cars attending the incident in St John's Walk, in the Elswick area of Newcastle, at about 2am, saw the Vectra in a nearby street and followed with blue lights flashing.

The Vectra then crashed into a wall in nearby Westmorland Road, and the woman, from Newcastle, was taken to hospital by ambulance where she died in theatre at 7.35am.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission will supervise an investigation into the incident, which will be carried out by Northumbria Police.

Commissioner for Northumbria, Gary Garland, said: "It is always a tragedy when someone dies, especially someone so young and in these circumstances.

''I will ensure the investigation into the events surrounding this death is carried out in a robust and open manner.

''I will also ensure that the family are kept regularly informed of progress in the investigation."