PC who struck 74-year-old on motorbike guilty of causing death by dangerous driving

Officer Convicted in Fatal Emergency Response Collision

PC Mark Roberts, a 57-year-old Northumbria Police officer, has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving following a tragic collision that claimed the life of Muriel Pinkney, 74, near the Metrocentre in Gateshead. The conviction came after a jury at Teesside Crown Court deliberated for just 56 minutes before reaching their verdict on Wednesday. Roberts was responding to a grade-one emergency call about a choking baby when the collision occurred on July 8, 2022, on a 30mph stretch of road. The officer, who lives in Darlington, had previously admitted to causing death by careless driving but contested the more serious charge of dangerous driving, which the jury ultimately upheld.

The collision involved Roberts' marked Peugeot 308 striking a motorcycle being ridden by Ronald Pinkney, 77, with his wife Muriel as a passenger. The impact was catastrophic for Mrs Pinkney, who sustained fatal head and neck injuries and died in hospital nine days after the collision. Her husband suffered serious injuries including a bleed on the brain and multiple fractures. The prosecution presented compelling evidence that Roberts' driving fell significantly below the standard expected of a police officer, particularly when responding to an emergency. Expert forensic collision investigators determined that Roberts was travelling at up to 49mph in the 30mph zone at the time of impact.

Critical Failures in Police Driving Protocol

At the heart of the case was Roberts' approach to a red traffic light. The evidence revealed that the light had been on "stop" for six seconds before Roberts' vehicle reached the junction, yet he failed to treat it as a required stop or give way point as mandated by police training. Dashcam footage from a witness vehicle and helmet camera footage from Mr Pinkney captured the moment of collision, providing crucial evidence for investigators. The CPS argued that Roberts did not identify the approaching motorcycle, which had right of way, and failed to apply full emergency braking before impact.

While PC Roberts was responding to an emergency, he had a duty to drive with due care and attention to the safety of others. The evidence showed he failed to treat the red light as a stop or give way, as required by police training.

Roberts recalled seeing a white van make an emergency stop moments before the collision. In his statement read to the court, he said: "I couldn't see anything else before travelling towards the junction. The next thing I recall is there was a bang and both airbags deployed and I hit the windscreen, which knocked me out for a few seconds." However, this explanation did not convince the jury, who found that his driving decisions were reckless and dangerous. The prosecution successfully argued that risk-taking, even in service of a "noble cause" such as responding to an emergency, was not justified under police roadcraft guidance.

Investigation and Legal Outcome

The investigation into the fatal collision was conducted through close cooperation between the Crown Prosecution Service, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and Northumbria Police. Forensic experts played a vital role in reconstructing the circumstances of the crash and determining vehicle speeds at the critical moment. The comprehensive nature of the investigation ensured that all aspects of Roberts' driving conduct were thoroughly examined before trial. Beyond the death by dangerous driving conviction, Roberts was also found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving to Mr Pinkney, reflecting the severity of his actions and their consequences.

The conviction sends a clear message about the accountability expected of law enforcement officers, even when responding to genuine emergencies. While the pressures of responding to a grade-one call are significant, the courts have determined that these do not excuse dangerous driving practices that endanger members of the public. The Pinkney family's loss serves as a stark reminder of the real-world consequences when emergency response procedures are not followed with appropriate caution and care. This case underscores the importance of maintaining rigorous driving standards across all circumstances, reinforcing that noble intentions do not justify reckless conduct on public roads.