A woman in her 40s sustained serious injuries after falling from a moving car near Hitchin - leading to the opening of a serious police investigation.

The incident happened shortly before 1pm on Tuesday afternoon when a woman fell from a moving vehicle.

The A602 from Gosmore roundabout in Hitchin leading to junction 8 of the A1 was closed until around 4pm.

Nub News visited the road closure around 3pm but an officer at the cordon declined to comment. However a Herts Police spokesperson gave Nub News the following comment: "The woman, aged in her forties, sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

"A road closure was put in place while the emergency services dealt with the incident. The road re-opened at around 4pm.

"Hertfordshire Constabulary has made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) with regards to a road traffic incident on the A602/Stevenage Road."

IOPC referral

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) oversees the police complaints system in England and Wales.

They investigate the most serious matters, including injuries and deaths following police contact, and set the standards by which the police should handle complaints.

This week for example, the IOPC has chosen to investigate Devon and Cornwall Police over Jake Davison's possession of a shotgun and shotgun certificate after the Plymouth shootings.

A IOPC spokesperson told Hitchin Nub News: "We have been notified by Hertfordshire Constabulary of the road traffic incident on the A602/Stevenage Road and we will be assessing a formal referral from the force."