A police officer, while escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh in London, was reported to have exceeded the speed limit and fatally struck an 81-year-old pedestrian. The incident occurred when PC Christopher Harrison, riding a motorcycle, ran a red light at a pedestrian crossing on West Cromwell Road. The victim, Helen Holland, passed away two weeks after the collision, where she was thrown into the air.
Harrison, a Metropolitan Police officer, pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing death by careless driving. Witnesses testified that he was traveling between 44mph and 58mph in a 30mph zone when the accident happened. The court was informed that although as a police escort motorcycle he had certain privileges such as going over the speed limit and running red lights, he still had a responsibility to drive cautiously.
The prosecution highlighted that Mrs. Holland was struck while rightfully crossing at the pedestrian crossing and that Harrison failed to see her, despite being allowed to exceed speed limits. The court heard that the outriders in the convoy were supposed to ensure safety by identifying and managing potential risks along the route. The trial is ongoing, with investigations confirming no mechanical faults on Harrison’s motorcycle that could have led to the collision.
