Officer's driving caused woman's death, jury told
BBCA police officer's sustained dangerous driving caused the death of a woman, a court has been told.
On the opening day of PC Matthew Pike's trial earlier, Bristol Crown Court was told his driving caused the death of Dr Keryl Johnson, 35, in Bristol in November 2021.
The 40-year-old faces a dangerous driving charge and an alternative charge of causing Johnson's death by careless driving following the incident in Newfoundland Circus. Pike denies both charges.
The court previously heard the Avon and Somerset Police officer had been driving an unmarked police car that was in pursuit of another vehicle, which then collided with Johnson's car.
She sustained serious injuries and died in hospital 11 days later.
Jocelyn Ledward KC, prosecuting, said Pike had been driving an unmarked BMW police car which pursued a Volkswagen Tiguan driven by Lewis Griffin shortly before midnight on 4 November 2021.
During the pursuit, the Tiguan collided with a Honda Jazz being driven by Johnson.
Ledward said: "The prosecution's case is that although Lewis Griffin's dangerous driving was the principal and immediate cause of Keryl Johnson's death, Mr Pike's driving was also dangerous and contributed to, and so in terms of the law, caused her death.
"He pursued the car in a manner, and for a period of time, which was objectively dangerous in that it fell below the standards expected of a careful driver."
Ledward said Pike was "trained to the most advanced level" of police pursuits and had received all the relevant refresher training.
He was authorised, in accordance with Avon and Somerset Police policies, to operate in any emergency phase of driving - including the initial pursuit phase and the final tactical phase of a pursuit, she added.
The trial continues.
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