A pensioner in a mobility scooter has been named as the third woman to die during a police chase within 12 hours.
On Tuesday night a driver being chased by police hit and killed a PCSO in Birmingham, and moments later officers responding to a 999 call in London killed a pedestrian.
The third incident happened at midday yesterday when pensioner Jessie Whitehead, who was riding a mobility scooter, was knocked down in Bedworth near Coventry. She was taken to hospital by air ambulance but later died of her injuries.
Officers in the police car which hit and killed the 74-year-old were responding to an emergency call about a ‘reported road safety hazard’ in the area.
The police watchdog, the IOPC, has opened an investigation and asked witnesses to come forward.
It comes after the death at 11.45pm on Tuesday night, of 26-year-old Eritrean refugee Luam Gebremariam, who died when she was hit be a police car on an emergency call as she walked next to a main road in Walthamstow, East London.
Just fifteen minutes before that crash, PSCO Holly Burke, 28, was killed when a Renault Scenic, being pursued by police, smashed into her Ford Fiesta in Birmingham.
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Jessie Whitehead, 74, was riding her mobility scooter when she was hit and killed by a squad car responding to a ‘reported road safety hazard’ in Warwickshire on Wednesday lunchtime
Bedworth, midday yesterday: A female pensioner in a mobility scooter was knocked down on Coventry Road. She was taken to hospital by air ambulance but later died
Wednesday’s incident in Bedworth has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct
The latest tragedy, on Coventry Road in Bedworth in Warwickshire, has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). It is not known how fast the police car was going when it hit the pensioner.
Assistant Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, Alex Franklin-Smith, said: ‘Our thoughts are with the woman’s family at this very difficult time. We are co-operating fully with the IOPC’s investigation. Anyone with information can call 101, quoting incident number 154.’
That was less than 12 hours after 26-year-old Eritrean refugee Luam Gebremariam died in Walthamstow, East London.
The car stopped at the scene and the officers gave the woman first aid before paramedics from London Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance arrived.
On Wednesday a picture of Ms Gebremariam was left at the crash site, along with touching tributes from staff at the YMCA where she was staying.
A 50-year-old woman, who lives just yards from the scene, said she knew the victim, who had been staying at the YMCA for about 18 months.
Eritrean refugee Luam Gebremariam (seen in an undated photo) died after being hit by a Met Police car in Walthamstow on Tuesday night
‘The girl was crossing outside my door,’ she said. ‘She lived in the YMCA. The car had a huge dent in and her body was thrown all the way down the road, you can see it must have been going very fast.’
Scotland Yard detectives were working to trace her next of kin, ‘who are believed to be outside the UK’. Forest Road, where the incident happened, has been closed.
One witness tweeted this morning that he had seen least five police cars and a forensic van at a junction by The Bell pub.
The woman said that she heard a banging at the door – it was her 18-year-old son, sobbing and shouting.
‘My son saw it all,’ she said. ‘He was coming back from being out with his friend and he came running and knocked on the door.
‘He was crossing the road at the same time as her, he said the policeman killed the girl.
‘I asked how he knew she was dead and he said ‘mummy, anyone hit at that speed and thrown that far would be dead’.’
Walthamstow, Tuesday night: Yesterday a picture of the victim was left at the crash site, (seen yesterday) along with touching tributes from staff at the YMCA where she was staying
Moments before that, on Tuesday night at 11.30pm, PSCO Holly Burke, 28, was killed when a Renault Scenic smashed into her Ford Fiesta in Birmingham.
Ms Burke had been a PCSO with West Midlands Police for 14 months.
The speeding car was being chased by police after it failed to stop in the Erdington area of the city. The crash happened in Lordswood Road, Harborne, after officers deployed a stinger device.
Darren Ogom, of Kings Norton, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without a licence, driving with no insurance and failing to stop for a police officer.
The unemployed 42-year-old has been remanded into custody and is due to appear at Birmingham magistrates’ court this morning.
Chief Superintendent Kenny Bell, commander at Birmingham East neighbourhood policing unit, said: ‘This is a desperately sad time for everyone who knew Holly and our thoughts and condolences are with Holly’s mum and dad, family, friends and colleagues.
‘There is no doubt that this tragic event will have an impact on those officers who responded and those who worked alongside her. Holly has been taken from us too soon and as a police family we are feeling this.’
Birmingham, Tuesday night: PSCO Holly Burke (pictured) died after a car chased by police for 15 minutes ploughed into her in Birmingham. Images undated
Birmingham, Tuesday night: PSCO Holly Burke, 28, was killed when a Renault Scenic smashed into her Ford Fiesta
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