Police driver in death crash unaware of student until he was 'directly in front' of car

Pc Vaughan Lowe's unmarked police BMW, which had its blue lights and siren on at the time, struck Chinese student Zhang Xuan Wei on the crossing on the A34 New Town Row in Birmingham.

The 24-year-old, a student at Birmingham City University, died in hospital the following day, the jury at Warwick Crown Court has heard. Lowe, aged 43, a West Midlands Police traffic officer, who is from Stourbridge, has pleaded not guilty to causing Mr Wei's death in April 2012 by careless driving.

It is alleged that although Lowe, who was answering an 'immediate response' call, had cut his speed from 62 to 52mph, he was still driving too fast. Giving evidence on the seventh day of the trial, Lowe, an officer since 1990, said he had never previously been involved in an accident.

As a video recording from the car's on-board camera was played in slow motion to show the moment leading up to the crash, Lowe pointed out: "That is different to the view I would have because of the situation of the camera. For things to my right the camera has a better view."

The recording was paused at the point where he could see the pelican crossing, with the lights on red, and his barrister Mr Brian Dean asked: "Did there come a time when you saw a pedestrian emerge from between the middle row of cars?"

Lowe said: "The pedestrian was slightly obscured by the car in the middle lane at the crossing, but I could see his movement from right to left." He explained that if he had stayed in the bus lane, the pedestrian might have run to get across it, frozen or run back.

"Because of the movement of the pedestrian I made the decision to go into the third lane. On approaching I have only seen that pedestrian on the crossing. I presumed that person had pressed the button. There is no person at either end of the pedestrian crossing.

"The lights are changing to flashing amber. I am aware they have been on red for a while, and I can't see any person on the crossing or approaching the crossing."

As the recording shows the BMW entering the confines of the crossing Lowe says the cars in the middle lane are not moving, which he presumed was because the driver had seen him coming.

Asked when he first became aware of a pedestrian in the vicinity of his vehicle, Lowe said: "When he was directly in front of the vehicle. Directly in front of the bonnet of the vehicle." Mr Dean observed: "You got out of the car and went to assist Mr Zhang." The trial continues.