Family handoutA police motorcyclist who crashed into a pensioner while escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh through London has choked up as he told a court it was a “tragic accident” which occurred in circumstances that he had “no control over”.
Helen Holland, 81, died two weeks after she was hit in the crash on West Cromwell Road, west London, on 10 May 2023.
Metropolitan Police officer PC Christopher Harrison, 68, was allegedly travelling at between 44mph (70km/h) and 58 mph (93km/h) as he approached the light along the road, which had a 30mph (48 km/h) speed limit at the time, the Old Bailey has heard.
He denies causing death by careless driving.
PC Harrison was emotional as he gave evidence on Wednesday.
He said his original intention was to stop at the crossing which was on a red light, but upon getting a “clear view”, he saw a “stationary” cyclist who was looking at him and “no other person” so made the decision that he could carry on.
Prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC asked: “Do you accept, PC Harrison, that you made a mistake? Just on that day, in those few seconds?”
Struggling to get his words out, PC Harrison replied: “On that day, a tragic accident occurred in a set of circumstances that I had no control over.”
The prosecutor said: “You did have control over it, you could have chosen to stop your bike and properly control that crossing.”
“Yes,” the defendant said.
“And you didn’t, did you?” Ms Heeley continued.
“No I didn’t,” PC Harrison said.
Jurors previously heard that Johnathan Moody, Lancashire Police’s deputy chief training instructor, thought PC Harrison’s actions at the scene were not up to standard.
Responding to that evidence, the defendant said: “I did everything I was trained to do on that day and I believe I did meet the standard.”
PC Harrison was among the team of convoy motorcycle outriders that was escorting Sophie as she left the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office in King Charles Street just after 15:00 BST.
The defendant, who has had 21 years of experience in the specialist escort group, said he “couldn’t put it into numbers” how many times he had undertaken the journey and that he was “very familiar” with the route.
‘She just appeared’
When asked why his speed slowed to between 33mph (53 km/h) and 38mph (61km/h) at the point of the crash, PC Harrison replied: “As soon as I had vision, I braked. Sorry.”
Asked when he did see Ms Holland, he said: “She was just there in front of me.
“She just appeared, between the kerb line and the point of collision.
“At no point did I see her on the island, I’m sorry.”
He also said the crash “has had a profound effect on me” and “just affected my life from that moment onwards”.
Ms Holland, who was from Birchanger in Essex, suffered a skull fracture, bruising to her arms, legs and body, plus fractures to her lower legs.
A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as complications from a severe head injury.
As part of a designated police escort team, outriders are, in certain circumstances, legally allowed to exceed the speed limit, pass red lights and drive on the wrong side of the road to try to move.
Using these exemptions must be done safely and with minimal risk to the public, the court heard.
The trial continues.