Dunston crash police officer jailed for woman's death

A police officer has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison after a fatal crash while responding to an emergency involving a choking infant. Mark Roberts, 57, was driving through a red light at speed when he collided with a motorbike near the Metrocentre in Gateshead in July 2022. The tragic accident resulted in the death of 74-year-old Muriel Pinkney, while her husband Ronald sustained serious injuries.

The incident occurred shortly after 3 pm on 8 July 2022, when Roberts was dispatched from Whickham Police Station to attend a grade one emergency call concerning a five-week-old baby struggling to breathe in Dunston. As he crossed a bridge over the A1, Roberts drove through a red light at an average speed of 43 mph and hit the Pinkneys’ motorbike, which was turning in front of him after leaving the dual carriageway. Though Roberts applied the brakes, he was still traveling between 25 and 27 mph at the moment of impact.

After the collision, Roberts briefly lost consciousness but regained it and administered first aid to the injured couple until paramedics arrived. Muriel Pinkney later died in hospital due to blunt head trauma, while her husband suffered a brain bleed and multiple fractures. In court, the couple’s daughter spoke movingly about the devastating loss and the profound effect it had on her father, who now walks with a limp and has given up motorcycling, an activity he cherished since youth. Despite their grief, the family stated they do not hold Roberts personally responsible for what happened.

During the sentencing, Roberts’ legal representative highlighted his 22 years of distinguished military service followed by a dedicated career in the police force. Nonetheless, Judge Francis Laird acknowledged that while Roberts was responding to a critical emergency, he committed serious errors by failing to drive with appropriate caution. The judge emphasized that, although emergency responders are permitted to exceed speed limits and run red lights in certain situations, this must always be done with care. He was critical of Roberts’ admission that emergency drivers often treated red lights merely as give way junctions, describing this as a deliberate disregard for the law and proper training. Consequently, Roberts was also disqualified from driving for over five years and must pass an extended driving test. Following the sentence, Assistant Chief Constable Andy Hill extended condolences to the Pinkney family and praised their dignified response, while confirming that misconduct proceedings against Roberts are ongoing

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