Northumbria police officer charged with causing death by dangerous driving appears in court
A police officer has appeared in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving after a collision between a police car and a motorbike in which a 74-year-old woman died.
A police officer has appeared in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving after a collision between a police car and a motorbike in which a 74-year-old woman died.
Pc Mark Roberts, 56, of Northumbria Police, appeared at Peterlee Magistrates' Court for a first hearing following the collision near the MetroCentre in Gateshead on July 8 2022.
Muriel Pinkney was a passenger on a motorbike on Dunston Road, Gateshead, which was in a collision with the marked police vehicle.
She died nine days later in hospital.
Motorbike rider Ronald Pinkney, 77 at the time, suffered multiple fractures to his leg, hip and pelvis.
Roberts, of Darlington, Co Durham, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He also faces alternative charges of causing death by careless driving and causing serious injury by careless driving.
No pleas were entered at the hearing.
District Judge Steven Hood sent the case to Durham Crown Court, where the officer will appear next on January 17, and granted him unconditional bail.