Nuneaton police crash woman was on a mobility scooter, IOPC says

[dutchman]

A 74-year-old woman who died after being hit by a police car was riding a mobility scooter at the time, the police watchdog says



Jessie Whitehead was struck by a marked Warwickshire Police vehicle responding to an emergency call in Bedworth at about midday on Wednesday.

She was taken to hospital where she later died.

The car was responding to a road hazard call, the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

After being notified by Warwickshire Police, IOPC investigators went to the scene and have also taken witness accounts from the driver and passenger who were involved.

Any relevant CCTV will be reviewed, the IOPC spokesman added.

Warwickshire Police said on Wednesday the victim had been on Gipsy Lane, near Coventry Road, Bedworth, at the time of the incident.

IOPC regional director, Derrick Campbell, offered his sympathies to the family and friends of Ms Whitehead, who lived in Bedworth.

"We have made contact with her family to explain our role," he added.

"We will be speaking to a small number of members of the public who we know were at the scene, but if anyone else witnessed the collision we would be grateful if they came forward."

[dutchman]

Officer 'could not avoid' Bedworth mobility scooter crash

A police officer answering an emergency call "could not have avoided" a fatal collision with a mobility scooter, a watchdog found.

Jessie Whitehead was struck by a marked Warwickshire Police car in Bedworth on 23 January 2019.

The Independent Office for Police Investigation (IOPC) found the vehicle was travelling at an "appropriate speed" for the call.

An inquest jury returned a conclusion of misadventure into the death.

A narrative, given alongside the verdict following the five-day hearing at Warwickshire Justice Centre, said Ms Whitehead, 74, who had been crossing Coventry Road, "entered the road carriageway of her own volition, solely in control of her scooter".

"Several witnesses gave evidence and confirmed that they heard sirens and saw flashing lights from the police car in question," it said.

Police officers gave first aid at the scene prior to the arrival of paramedics but Ms Whitehead died in hospital, the IOPC said.

Its investigation found the police car was travelling at appropriate speed for the response, around 65 mph on the 50 mph limit carriageway before the officer braked, immediately before the collision, on seeing the scooter enter the road.

It said the police car had been responding to a report of an oil leak from a broken-down crane on a road near Nuneaton, causing a dangerous hazard at a bend.

IOPC regional director, Derrick Campbell, said: "I again send my sympathies to the family and friends of Jessie Whitehead and everyone affected by this terribly sad event.

"The officer was suitably trained and qualified and sadly, despite efforts to brake, could not have avoided the tragic collision."