Band's shock over stolen van in police chase crash

Band's shock over stolen van in police chase crash recounts how a band leader reacted after learning that a stolen van used in a police chase crash near Leicester was tied to his group. The incident occurred in the early hours of 29 June on the wrong side of the A46, when a Mercedes van being pursued collided with a BMW 1 Series and caught fire. The BMW driver was taken to hospital, and Niks Rogacs, 26, from Leicester, was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, theft of a vehicle, and driving without insurance. Authorities later reported that the van belonged to pop-bhangra act Masti Band and had been carrying “priceless” drums. Aamir Rana, the band’s vocalist and keyboard player, said the theft happened about five days earlier from a Leicester car park on Walnut Street. He described modifications to a long-used dhol drum and said performances were shifted to backing tracks as the band awaited clarity on what survived. Leicestershire Police said inquiries were continuing.