Police Officer Not Guilty of Death by Careless Driving

A tragic accident happened between a police officer driving a vehicle on an emergency call resulting in fatal road injury claim.  The police officer was driving his vehicle at over 30 miles per hour above the 40 miles per hour speed limit on the road in wet conditions.

With regret and  resulting in tragic consequences, the police vehicle collided with another vehicle containing two occupants.  One of the occupants died from the multiple injuries and the other passenger of the vehicle sustained a facial fracture.

Police Investigation Into The Fatal Road Injury Claim

It was found by the Independent Police Complaints Commission that the police officer had lost control when driving his vehicle on a bend which then collided into the on coming car where one occupant was tragically and fatally killed.

Pc Thomas Hart, 27, was acquitted following a four day trial at Teesside Crown Court.  The IPCC thought there was sufficient evidence to charge the police officer for death by careless driving.

However the Crown Court that head the evidence found that there was insufficient evidence and thus he was found not guilty of causing death by carless driving.

The IPCC produced a statement:  “This was a terrible tragedy for all involved. My sympathies in particular go out to Aimee Welsh’s family and friends. They have lost someone they loved dearly.”

Death By Careless Driving

In this case although the police officer was found innocent of causing death by careless driving, nevertheless it does not necessarily mean that no compensation claim for the death can be made.  As fatal accident solicitors, we were not involved in this most unfortunate case but anyone who has been involved in a similar circumstance will be advised that a fatal injury compensation claim can be made through the civil Courts.

In the above case, the Police officer was being charged with death by careless driving in the Crown Court, i.e. by the Crown Prosecution Service and if found guilty may go to jail.  In a Civil compensation claim, anyone acquitted by the Crown Court of causing death by careless driving can still be made to pay compensation for the fatal injury claim as the standard of proof is less than in the Crown Court.

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