Officer's careless driving seriously injured woman

An officer has been banned from driving for four months after admitting to causing serious injury by careless driving when he hit a woman while driving an unmarked police car.

Avon and Somerset Police PC Dan Parsons, 32, had been responding to a suspected firearms incident when he drove through a red light in Emersons Green, near Bristol, and struck a 19-year-old woman on 24 November 2024.

The victim is still recovering from her significant injuries, police said.

At a sentencing hearing at Gloucester Crown Court on Monday, Parsons, who pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving, was also ordered to pay nearly £4,000.

The unmarked police car was using blue lights and a siren at the time of the collision, police said.

Det Supt Larisa Hunt, head of the professional standards department, said: "As a result of the collision, a young woman was left with significant injuries from which she is still recovering.

"Our thoughts remain with her, as well as her family.

"Police officers are always expected to follow national and local guidance, and their training, when responding to emergency incidents.

"Now the criminal case has concluded, we'll be progressing with the misconduct process."

The force made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service.

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