The police watchdog is investigating Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) actions before a man was hit and killed by a vehicle on the M56 near Wythenshawe after a police pursuit.

GMP said that shortly before 7.30pm on Saturday 17 October, officers saw a red motorbike being driven in a dangerous manner on the M60 clockwise around Stockport Pyramid, as reported by BBC News and the Manchester Evening News (MEN). A pursuit followed onto the M56. The force said officers made tactical contact with the motorbike at low speed on the hard shoulder near junction 5, and that it was brought to a stop between junctions 3 and 4.

According to GMP, the rider then ran across the motorway and was hit by another vehicle. He received emergency treatment from paramedics but was pronounced dead at the scene. Part of the M56 was closed overnight.

A second man, who was not involved in the pursuit, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs and causing death by driving uninsured, GMP said. No charges have been reported.

GMP referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which said it was “independently investigating the involvement of Greater Manchester Police” before the collision. The IOPC said its investigation would look at police actions prior to the fatal collision, and that it would contact the man's family to offer its condolences and explain its role, the MEN reported.

The man was Cody Lowndes, 27, his family said. In a tribute reported by BBC News, they said they were “heartbroken” and that he had found a purpose in life through his baby daughter.

GMP asks anyone with information, dashcam or CCTV footage to call 101, quoting log 2974 of 17/10/26, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Sources: BBC News, 18 October 2026; BBC News, 19 October 2026; Manchester Evening News, including the IOPC statement; ITV News Granada, 18 October 2026, including the GMP statement. This article was produced with the help of AI tools and checked by an editor against the sources above.