Speeding police car kills woman (From News Shopper)

Speeding police car kills woman

10:25am Wednesday 26th June 2002 in

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A PEDESTRIAN died instantly when she was hit by a speeding police car on an emergency call.

The 29-year-old woman was hit at 1am on Monday by the police Astra outside Shooter's Hill police station.

Two PCs, a 37-year-old who was driving and a 26-year-old passenger, were rushing to a reported burglary in Charlton.

Although the traffic lights were green, the woman was hit as she stood in Well Hall Road.

Two ambulances and a duty officer attended the scene but the woman, whose name had not been released when the News Shopper went to press, was pronounced dead at 1.45am.

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) has called for an urgent report into the accident.

Its chairman Toby Harris said: "This is an extremely upsetting and regrettable incident. I would like to extend my condolences to her family and friends.

"This latest incident adds to the Authority's concern about collisions involving vehicles which result in death or injury.

"We must do what needs to be done to avoid any further tragedies."

Deaths in high-speed police pursuits in Britain have increased from nine in the year to April 1998 to 26 in just seven months last year.

A post-mortem examinationwas performed on the woman, who lived in the Shooter's Hill area, by a coroner at Greenwich mortuary yesterday.

The two PCs involved, who are based at Eltham police station, are "extremely shaken by the incident" and have been put on sick leave.

The driver, who has six years driving experience, has been suspended pending an investigation.

Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information about the deceased to contact the traffic investigation unit at Catford, on 020 8284 5931.