Police officer who hit pensioner while escorting Duchess of Edinburgh cleared of careless driving

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3 days ago

PC Harrison has been acquitted of causing death by careless driving (Picture: Jamie Lorriman)

???A police motorcyclist killed a pensioner while driving through a red light at up to 58mph as he escorted the Duchess of Edinburgh through London, a court has heard. Helen Holland, 81, died two weeks after she was hit at a pedestrian crossing on West Cromwell Road in west London on May 10 2023. Pc Christopher Harrison, who has pleaded not guilty to causing death by careless driving, was travelling at between 44mph and 58mph as he approached the red light, the Old Bailey heard. The prosecution say Mr Harrison, of the Metropolitan Police, was careless when he drove through a red light and hit Mrs Holland.??? Pictured: A SEG (Special Escort Group) police bike can be seen inside a police cordon surrounded by medical equipment in the carriageway of the A4 West Cromwell Road near Earl???s Court. Jamie Lorriman mail@jamielorriman.co.uk www.jamielorriman.co.uk 07718 900288 — PC Harrison has been acquitted of causing death by careless driving (Picture: Jamie Lorriman)

A Metropolitan Police motorcyclist who hit an 81-year-old grandmother while escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh has been acquitted.

Christopher Harrison, 68, has been cleared of causing death by careless driving at the Old Bailey.

The police officer was riding his BMW motorbike in a motorcade for the royal when he struck pensioner Helen Holland in Earl’s Court, west London.

PC Harrison sped through a red light at a pedestrian crossing on West Cromwell Road at 58mph – which had a 30mph speed limit at the time.

Ms Holland suffered serious injuries from the collision which occured on May 10, 2023.

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The mother-of-four died in hospital two weeks after the crash.

She suffered a skull fracture, bruising to her arms, legs and body, plus fractures to her lower legs.

PC Harrison was riding his motorbike in a motorcade when he struck Helen Holland (Picture: Jamie Lorriman)

The motorcade included a car which Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was travelling in.

A police backup vehicle and four motorbike outriders were also part of the convoy.

PC Harrison said his body camera was not on the day of the crash as he forgot to turn it on.

He said he was mindful of the need to impede other members of the public as little as possible and keep an eye on other motorists while driving.

Pc Harrison, who became emotional while giving evidence during the trial, told jurors the collision was a ‘tragic accident’ which occurred in circumstances that he had ‘no control over’.

A jury acquitted Pc Harrison on Thursday after deliberating for two hours and 25 minutes.

After the verdict was returned, a person shouted from the public gallery: ‘You ruined our family with no consequences.’

Mr Justice Martin Chamberlain then told Pc Harrison he was free to leave.

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