Police officer on trial over crash which left driver injured
A police officer has appeared in court accused of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Officer Mark Calladine was overtaking a queue of traffic when he hit a Ford Ranger as it turned right into a business park badly hurting driver Ian Smith, it was claimed.
The 42-year-old Staffordshire Police officer, from Bradley, Stafford, was behind the wheel of an unmarked police car while pursuing an uninsured Renault Scenic through rural roads in Stafford.
He was chasing the vehicle with a colleague along Creswell Grove – close to junction 14 of the M6 – before heading along the Newport Road on February 27 last year.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how the unmarked BMW was travelling at around 65mph when disaster struck.
Mr Timothy Harrington, prosecuting, continued: “It is irrelevant that he was a police officer. In doing what he did and not slowing down it fell well below competent and careful driving.
"There was a clear sign that indicates there are turning vehicles and business premises to the right. He should be able to assume cars are turning down there.
“He ignored the fact that in front of him was a car which had its right indicator on.”
The court was shown a video clip recorded on the police car’s dashboard of the crash and the moments leading up to it.
Officers in the town centre had become suspicious of the Renault and its three occupants whilst on patrol and checks found it was uninsured.
During the car chase, Calladine overtook a series of cars and while travelling at 100mph at one point, it was claimed.
Calladine, who arrived for the trial aided by a crutch, denies causing serious injury by driving dangerously.
The trial continues.
