Police Officer Found Guilty in Fatal Emergency Response Crash
A serving police officer has been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving after a collision that occurred while he was responding to a high-priority 999 call. The incident, which took place in Gateshead, has raised significant questions about emergency response protocols and road safety.
Details of the Tragic Incident
PC Mark Roberts, aged 57, was answering an emergency call concerning a choking five-week-old baby when his marked Northumbria Police vehicle collided with a motorbike carrying Ronald and Muriel Pinkney. The crash happened in July 2022, with the court hearing that Roberts was travelling at 43mph on a road with a 30mph speed limit as he approached traffic lights that had been red for six seconds.
At the moment of impact, Roberts had reduced his speed to approximately 25mph. The collision resulted in both pensioners being thrown from their motorbike. Muriel Pinkney, 74, sustained severe head and neck injuries and was later pronounced dead. Her husband, Ronald, now 81, survived but suffered a brain bleed and multiple fractures.
Court Proceedings and Verdict
Teesside Crown Court heard that Roberts admitted causing death by careless driving but denied the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Prosecutors argued that despite responding to what they described as a "noble cause," the officer should have approached the junction with greater caution.
The jury deliberated for just 56 minutes before returning guilty verdicts on both counts: causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving to Mr Pinkney. Judge Francis Laird KC acknowledged the difficult circumstances, describing Roberts as "a serving police officer responding to an emergency who never intended to cause anyone any harm."
Officer's Account and Aftermath
In his police statement, Roberts explained that paramedics had requested his assistance with the choking baby because he could reach the location faster. He confirmed that his blue lights and sirens were activated when he departed from Whickham police station. Moments before the collision, he reported seeing a white van make an emergency stop, stating: "I couldn't see anything else before travelling towards the junction."
Roberts described the incident as a "tragic accident" and offered his sincere condolences to Mrs Pinkney's family. He has been granted bail ahead of sentencing scheduled for 7 April and will also face a misconduct hearing.
Police Response and Broader Implications
Following the verdict, Assistant Chief Constable Andy Hill of Northumbria Police expressed condolences to the Pinkney family and all those affected by the tragedy. He acknowledged that while police respond to emergencies daily, incidents of this nature are extremely rare, but regrettably, the driving standard in this case fell short of expectations with devastating consequences.
This case highlights the complex balance between urgent emergency response and maintaining road safety standards, particularly in urban areas like Gateshead where such incidents can have fatal outcomes.
