Elderly Pedestrian Killed in Police Escort Incident
A Metropolitan Police officer driving a motorcycle as part of a royal escort for Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, struck and killed an 81-year-old woman after driving through a red light while exceeding the speed limit, the Old Bailey has heard.
The Fatal Collision in Earl's Court
Helen Holland was using a pedestrian crossing on West Cromwell Road in Earl's Court on 10 May 2023 when she was hit by PC Christopher Harrison's motorbike. The court was told the impact sent Mrs Holland flying through the air. She sustained serious injuries and died two weeks later.
Prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC said PC Harrison was travelling at an estimated speed of between 44mph and 58mph in a 30mph zone when he approached the crossing. The speed limit on this road has since been reduced to 20mph.
Passer-by Diana Cetara, who witnessed the collision while walking her dogs, described the traumatic event to the court: "She was crossing, a motorbike hit her and then she flew away – to be honest, I was a bit of a mess then."
Police Protocol and Allegations of Carelessness
PC Harrison, who has pleaded not guilty to causing death by careless driving, was part of a team of convoy outriders escorting the Duchess after she left the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office.
Ms Heeley explained that while police escorts are permitted to exceed speed limits and pass through red lights, the officer still had a duty to drive carefully. The prosecution alleges he failed in this duty.
The court heard that the convoy's lead motorbike had passed on information about the pedestrian crossing. A second motorcyclist then relayed that the traffic lights had turned red. Despite this, 18 seconds later, PC Harrison drove through the red light and collided with Mrs Holland.
"Mrs Holland was entitled to be crossing then," Ms Heeley told the jury. "Mr Harrison knew that the light for traffic, for him, was red, and so he should have taken care when driving through the red light, but he did not stop and he did not see Mrs Holland, which is why he drove straight into her."
The prosecutor emphasised that the outriders' role was to identify and control potential hazards, including pedestrian crossings. One method of controlling a crossing is for a motorcyclist to position their bike across it and communicate with pedestrians to ensure they wait for the convoy to pass.
An examination of PC Harrison's motorbike after the crash found no mechanical faults that could have caused the collision. The trial continues.
