A Tayside police officer’s career hangs in the balance after she ran a red light and caused a car crash on a blue-light mercy dash for a colleague.
Carnoustie PC Jennifer Jones appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted
driving dangerously and causing an accident in Arbroath town centre.
The court heard Jones was helping another officer get back to his sick child in the west end of Dundee.
The 28-year-old from Dundee faces losing her driving licence following the collision on Burnside Drive in 2014 involving her Ford Focus and a Kia Cee’d driven by Susan Clark.
Solicitor Callum Anderson said the constable was on duty with fellow PC Charles Demore when his wife called about concerns over their six-week-old baby.
Under blue lights, Jones drove her colleague back to Arbroath police office for him to drop off kit before heading towards Monifieth – but only made it 500 yards before crashing into the clerical worker’s car.
Depute fiscal Robbie Brown said the officers were going south on Burnside Drive, and Mrs Clark, 45, was driving west on Brothock Bridge.
The court heard Jones drove through three lights on Burnside Drive as they were in sequence – green at Catherine Street, amber turning red at Millgate, and red at Brothock Bridge.
Mr Brown earlier said there was an indication Mrs Clark may be experiencing post-traumatic stress.
The court heard her Kia was written off and damage valued at £5,000, while the Focus sustained damage valued at £8,500.
PC Demore gave evidence in a special reasons proof as PC Jones bids to keep her driving licence. He received a panicked phone call from his wife and was told by his sergeant to go home.
“My wife didn’t know what was going on,” he said. “The young one was screaming frantically for an extended period of time.
“I lived in the west end of Dundee and had to go to Arbroath to drop off my gear. I was not a permitted driver at that time and my personal vehicle was in Monifieth.
“(My sergeant) suggested I go back and have Constable Jones drive me back.
“Jenny noticed I was concerned and she said, ‘Is this urgent? Do I need to put the blue lights on?’ I said, ‘if you don’t mind’.”
Mr Demore said the journey from Carnoustie to Arbroath was uneventful and he only became “concerned” by Jones’ driving when he saw they were about to pass through the red light at the Brothock Bridge junction.
After the accident, it emerged paramedics had taken the baby to A&E at Ninewells Hospital.
Sheriff Gregor Murray deferred sentence until August 9, adding: “For obvious reasons, I want this dealt with as quickly as possible.”
It is understood that PC Jones has not been suspended from duty.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland’s Tayside Division said: “Police Scotland acknowledge the outcome of the case and await the determination of the sheriff. The matter will be referred to the deputy chief constable for consideration.”
