An on-duty police motorcyclist and 91-year-old woman who was car passenger have been killed in a road crash.
The on-duty officer was riding a police motorcycle and was on-duty when ihe smashed into a car, in which the elderly woman was a passenger, in the sleepy Berkshire village of Wargrave.
The dramatic incident, which has been referred to the independent police watchdog the IPCC, happened on the A4, just before 2pm.
Police tonight named the officer killed as Police constable James Dixon, who was based with Thames Valley Police at their Lodden Valley police station near Reading.
Police constable Dixon was riding his police motorbike when the impact happened and officers were tonight/last night (Tues) still at the scene.
The elderly passenger in the car was also killed while the driver of the vehicle was rushed to hospital, although her injures were not thought to be life-threatening.
Pc Dixon was based at Loddon Valley police station and both next-of-kin of the deceased were informed of the tragedy which happened at 1.50pm.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: “As is standard procedure, due to the fact that the incident resulted in the deaths of a member of the public and an on duty police officer Thames Valley Police has made a mandatory referral to the IPCC who have begun an investigation.”
IPCC Associate Commissioner Guido Liguori said: “We have been notified by Thames Valley Police of a collision on the A4 near Reading, in which, tragically, a 91 year old woman and a police officer have died.
“My thoughts and sympathies are with their families and friends and the colleagues of the officer at this very difficult time.
“IPCC investigators are attending the scene as part of an independent investigation to determine the circumstances which lead to the collision.”