A Detective Constable has been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving when she drove through the junction of Otley Road and Cold Bath Road in Harrogate.
She was the only occupant of an unmarked police vehicle, using a blue light at around 10:12pm, when it collided with a Vauxhall Corsa.
The collision caused serious injury to the occupants, two ladies in their late 70’s.
The police officer was taken to Harrogate Hospital, but the driver and a passenger of the Corsa were seriously injured.
The passenger was transferred to Harrogate Hospital with multiple limb fractures. The driver was taken to Jimmy’s Hospital in Leeds with multiple injuries including a punctured lung, fractured vertebrae and a fractured foot.
The matter was referred to the Independent Office for Police Complaints (IOPC) at the time and they recently concluded their investigations resulting in the matter being passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the officer being charged.
North Yorkshire Police officer charged with dangerous driving offence
In a statement from the IOPC:
A North Yorkshire Police officer has been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.
Detective Constable (DC) Quita Passmore, aged 37, was the driver of a unmarked police car on the evening of 5 May 2018 on Otley Road, Harrogate.
She was responding to an emergency call when it is alleged her car collided with another vehicle, seriously injuring two women. DC Passmore was also injured.
Our investigation was completed in October 2019 and the evidence referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) who made the decision to charge DC Passmore with one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
She is due before Leeds Magistrates Court on 18 December.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson:
North Yorkshire Police has co-operated with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and is aware of the findings of its investigation.
A serving police officer is due to appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on 18 December accused of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
It follows an incident on 5 May 2018 when an unmarked police vehicle was in collision with another vehicle on Otley Road in Harrogate causing injuries to the two occupants.
As court proceedings are active, it is not currently appropriate to comment further as this could prejudice the outcome of the proceedings.
