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Feb 2021

Last Updated: 03/02/2021

Crime

Police officer guilty of dangerous driving over Harrogate crash

by Connor Creaghan

| 03 Feb, 2021

DC Quita Passmore drove through a red light at 50mph before crashing into a car carrying two elderly Harrogate women, who sustained severe injuries including broken bones and a punctured lung.

A police officer who drove through a red light in Harrogate at 50 miles per hour and then crashed into a car carrying two elderly women has been found guilty of dangerous driving.

DC Quita Passmore, 38, was driving an undercover police vehicle when she went through the red light at the junction of Otley Road and Cold Bath Road.

She was responding to reports of an officer in distress at 10pm on May 5, 2018 when the incident occurred.

Bradford Crown Court heard how Patricia Bulmer and Janet Roberton sustained severe injuries, including broken bones and a punctured lung.

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The jury of 12 people retired for deliberations at about 1pm today and returned with a guilty verdict on two counts of dangerous driving at about 4.30pm.

DC Passmore, who pleaded not guilty, said in a statement that was read out during the trial:

“I was aware that I needed to give way for the red light. But I thought it was unlikely that anything would emerge as my colleague had passed through seconds before.

“As I went through the junction a red car emerged. My evasive action was not enough to avoid the collision.

“I am glad to hear that the two other people involved are making a recovery. I am very sorry this happened, it was never my intention.”

Patricia Bulmer, who was driving the vehicle that was hit, told police in hospital:

“We had spent the day at a friend’s house and left around 10pm. I had driven up Cold Bath Road and turned onto the junction with Otley Road.

“Then there was an almighty smash and bang. The airbag flew into me. My friend was then making moaning noises at the side of me."

Janet Roberton, who was a passenger, told police:

“I heard a loud siren-type noise and saw lights to the right of the car. I just remember one of us shouting ‘oh my god, oh my god’.

“Then there was a loud bang, it was the most awful noise I have ever heard. My first thought was the we were going to die, it felt terrible.”

Judge Burn adjourned the court until tomorrow morning, when he will sentence DC Passmore for dangerous driving.

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Police officer guilty of dangerous driving over Harrogate crash

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