Northumbria Police officer charged over fatal crash
Muriel Pinkney died when a police car crashed with the motorbike she was on in Dunston Road in Gateshead
A Northumbria Police officer has been charged with driving offences following a fatal collision in Gateshead.
It follows a crash involving a police vehicle and a motorbike on Friday, 8th July, back in 2022.
The rider and passenger were struck by a marked police car on Dunston Road, near the Metrocentre.
The female passenger on the motorbike, 74 year old Muriel Pinkney, died in hospital nine days later.
The male rider was taken to hospital after sustaining multiple fractures to his leg, hip, and pelvis.
The driver of the police vehicle, PC Mark Roberts, 56, is due to make his first appearance at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on Friday 20 December.
He is facing charges of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The officer also faces additional charges of causing death by careless driving and causing serious injury by careless driving.
The crash sparked an investigation by the Independent Office For Police Conduct (IOPC), which was completed in December 2023.
The IPOC referred its evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised the charges last month.