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Fatal crash involving Darlington PC happened in ‘blink of an eye’,
PC Mark Roberts, of Darlington, drove through a series of red lights as he headed an urgent call for emergency treatment for a five-year-old child before the crash happened.
The 57-year-old was in a marked Northumbria Police vehicle which collided with a motorcycle on Dunston Road, near the Metrocentre, in Gateshead, shortly after 3pm on Friday, July 8, 2022.
Muriel Pinkney, 74, a passenger on the motorbike, died in hospital nine day later from injuries sustained in the collision.
PC Mark Roberts arriving at an earlier court hearing (Image: Press Association)
Her husband Ronald, 77 at the time, the motorcycle rider, suffered fractures to his leg, hip, and pelvis.
John Harrison KC, prosecuting, told jurors that the officer failed to slow down sufficiently as he approached the traffic lights moments before the fatal collision and showed disregard for other road users.
In his closing speech, he said: “The prosecution says how he drove was dangerous – it was far below the standard expected of a competent driver.
“It was that driving that caused death and serious injury to two people.”
Mr Harrison added: “He went speeding across a junction, expecting everyone else to stop because he had his siren and lights flashing.
“We don’t know his thought process but it is reasonable to conclude that it was ‘I can go as fast as I like, they will see and hear me and avoid me’.”
The jury heard how the defendant declined to the opportunity to give evidence in his defence.
Luke Ponte, representing the officer, said his client had already accepted responsibility for the fatal collision but denied that his driving was dangerous at the time.
In his closing speech, he said: “The blink of an eye – you are assessing a failure of standards, I say on Mr Roberts’behalf, was momentary.
“It happened in the blink of eye. Not suggested by the prosecution that this was sustained and prolonged dangerous driving and an accident waiting to happen.
“It was a failure at these lights alone.”
The jury heard how the officer was driving at around 25mph at the time of the collision with the elderly couple’s motorbike.
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Footage from Mr Pinkney’s helmet camera, which captured the fatal incident, was shown to the jury.
The Northumbria police officer has denied causing Mrs Pinkney’s death by dangerous driving.
He also denied causing serious injuries to Mr Pinkney by dangerous driving.
The trial continues.