Grandmother Dies After Collision with Police Outrider on Royal Escort Duty
A Metropolitan Police motorcyclist, part of a royal escort for the Duchess of Edinburgh, sped through a red light and struck an 81-year-old grandmother, a court has heard. Christopher Harrison, 68, was riding his BMW motorcycle at an estimated 58mph in a 20mph zone when he collided with Helen Holland on a pedestrian crossing in Earl's Court on 10 May 2023.
The mother-of-four sustained serious injuries and died in hospital two weeks later on 23 May 2023. PC Harrison, from Billericay, Essex, has pleaded not guilty to a single charge of causing death by careless driving at the Old Bailey.
The Fateful Escort Mission
The convoy, which had departed from the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office shortly after 3pm, was escorting Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh. Her car was accompanied by a police backup vehicle and four motorbike outriders, including PC Harrison.
Prosecutor Michelle Heeley, KC, explained that while the police escorts were permitted to exceed speed limits and pass through red lights for security reasons, they retained a duty of care to other road users. The court heard that the convoy largely followed communication protocols as they navigated through London's traffic.
However, the situation turned tragic on West Cromwell Road. The lead outrider in the convoy passed through the pedestrian crossing while the traffic lights were green. The lights turned red as the second motorcycle passed, and this information was relayed to the rest of the escort team.
Despite this warning, 18 seconds later, PC Harrison drove through the red light and hit Mrs Holland, who was three metres into the carriageway on the crossing she was entitled to use.
A Failure of Care, Prosecution Argues
Ms Heeley told the jury that PC Harrison was 178 metres away when the light turned red and had seen the change at least 10 seconds before he proceeded. His speed was estimated to be between 44 and 58 mph at the time of the collision.
'The prosecution say his driving was careless and he is guilty of causing death by careless driving,' she stated. 'He knew that the light for traffic, ie for him, was red, and so he should have taken care when driving through that red light, but he did not stop and he did not see Mrs Holland which is why he drove straight into her.'
The prosecutor emphasised that Harrison, as a 'working bike' in the escort, had a specific job to identify and control hazards like pedestrian crossings. He should have modified his speed and ensured the crossing was clear before proceeding. Ms Heeley confirmed that a post-collision analysis found no faults with the motorcycle itself.
In police interviews, PC Harrison claimed he did not see Mrs Holland and that she 'appeared from nowhere.' The prosecution countered this, stating she must have been visible at the side of the road before she began to cross.
The trial continues.
