A tragic incident unfolded as a father lost his life in a car accident while being pursued by the police, shortly after the search for him had been called off. Jeremiah Hines, aged 23, had left his residence in Ilkeston to buy snacks from Tesco for a movie night on the evening of September 22 when the fatal crash occurred. The following morning, his body was discovered by a passerby on a trail at Shipley Country Park.
More than a month later, uncertainties linger about the events surrounding his demise, which is presently being probed by Derbyshire Constabulary. The repercussions of his passing have been profound, notably affecting his girlfriend Sophie Scott, their 15-month-old son Daenerys, and their soon-to-be-born second child.
Expressing her grief, Ms. Scott remarked, “It’s unbelievable that he’s no longer with us. That single pursuit has altered the lives of two children and mine forever.” She criticized the police for what she perceived as a failure in their search efforts after Mr. Hines fled into the woods following the accident on Church Street. According to Nottinghamshire Live, officers had chased him due to his uninsured Mercedes and scoured the vicinity for about an hour and a half using drones and a canine unit.
Detective Constable Danielle Pimborough suggested that Mr. Hines might have perished shortly after the search, potentially impeded by the nighttime conditions. Ms. Scott has raised doubts about the search’s duration and effectiveness, asserting that the authorities could have rescued her partner.
“Heartbroken at the thought of him being alone all night,” she lamented. “That just adds to the agony. He could have been saved and suffered in solitude.”
Ms. Scott pointed out that Mr. Hines was located near where the vehicle had crashed, implying he couldn’t have traveled far post-accident. “If he had hidden, he would have called me. He knew I was pregnant and had a child waiting at home,” she stated.
“He would have told me to come get him. It doesn’t add up. I don’t understand how they missed finding him. They should have known he was seriously injured.”
Discovering her partner’s demise only in the early hours of September 23, over 24 hours after his departure, Ms. Scott recalled, “I thought maybe he had been detained,” until a distressing call from Mr. Hines’ mother clarified the situation.
“He was someone who turned his life around after making mistakes in his youth,” she shared. “He was gearing up to begin a new career as a railway engineer.” She disclosed that Mr. Hines had recently spent time in jail due to an erroneous prison recall, a decision criticized by a magistrate as “inappropriate.”
“He was a man who transformed his life and aspired to build a family,” she reflected. “He was a caring and providing partner and father. He had a great sense of humor and loved playing pranks. He was a wonderful person.”
“He was a lively individual who always brought smiles to others. All of this due to a police pursuit. All because the police didn’t fulfill their duties properly.”
A Derbyshire Police spokesperson noted, “The investigation into Jeremiah Hines’ death on September 23, 2025, was referred to the IOPC. The IOPC has now returned it to the force for a localized investigation. The inquiry is ongoing, and the family has been notified.”
An IOPC representative added, “On September 23, we were informed by Derbyshire Constabulary about the death of a man at Shipley Country Park, potentially linked to a police pursuit in Ilkeston the prior evening.”
“Following an evaluation of the referral, we determined that a local investigation by Derbyshire Constabulary was warranted. Forces must make a new referral to us if they discover any indications of misconduct in cases where a death or severe injury is being investigated.”
