Police officers face M1 crash charges

Two Yorkshire police officers are due in court today to face charges in connection with a motorway crash in which a woman and two children were seriously injured.
By Rob Preece Crime Correspondent
Published 31st Mar 2011, 07:00 BST

A 53-year-old detective constable and a 40-year-old police constable, both members of South Yorkshire Police, have been summonsed to appear at Leeds Magistrates Court.

They will face charges of dangerous driving related to an incident in which two unmarked police cars – a BMW and a Seat Leon Cupra – collided with a Seat Alhambra people carrier near junction 34 on the northbound carriageway of the M1.

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A woman and four children travelling in the people carrier were taken to hospital. One of the children, an 11-year-old boy, suffered serious head injuries and another was left with a broken leg and internal injuries. The woman suffered a serious arm injury.

Prosecutors decided to bring charges following an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The Yorkshire Post understands that lawyers for the two officers, both male, may apply for their names to be kept secret for operational reasons.

The officers were slightly injured in the crash, which happened as they were travelling between operations on April 30 last year.

South Yorkshire Police said they had not been suspended and their duties remained unrestricted.