IPCC issues findings from fatal collision with police vehicle in Lincoln

The IPCC investigation has determined that there is no evidence to suggest that the police constable’s manner of driving fell below the required standard, and therefore there is no case for the officer to answer in respect of misconduct.

 

At around 10.10 pm on Sunday 27 March 2011 a marked Skoda Octavia police vehicle was responding to a priority call when the collision occurred on the A57 Carholme Road close to the junction with Gresham Street in the built up area of Lincoln.

 

The cyclist, 28-year-old Matthew Tuffin, suffered life-threatening injuries in the collision and was later pronounced dead at Lincoln County Hospital.

 

The IPCC investigation concluded based on all the evidence available, that:

 

- the officer was travelling over the 30 mph speed limit for the road but was entitled to do so in responding to a priority call;

- the standard pedestrian crossing where the collision occurred was indicating a green light giving priority to vehicles at the time of the incident;

- the police vehicle had its blue hazard warning lights activated prior to and during the incident;

- Mr Tuffin was riding his bicycle on the pavement and then turned right across the carriageway at the crossing;

- the officer driving was qualified as a police standard driver and was trained and authorised to carry out emergency driving.

 

The investigation gathered relevant CCTV footage, took account of a number of witness statements from the public, viewed scene photographs, and examined police airwave transmissions and the data recorder from the police vehicle. Accounts were taken from the police constable driver and a special constable who was a passenger in the Skoda. It looked at force driving policies and commissioned work from a private accident investigation company.

 

The police were responding to a 999 call relating to a threat of assault in the Birchwood area of Lincoln at the time of the collision.

 

Because of an apparently faulty wire between the vehicle siren and the onboard Incident Data Recorder (IDR) it was not possible to determine categorically that the siren was activated at the time of the collision. The IPCC recommended that Lincolnshire Police ensure regular testing of vehicle IDRs with appropriate calibration checks to ensure they are working properly.

 

Lincolnshire Police referred the collision to the IPCC on 28 March last year and it was decided an independent investigation would commence. The IPCC has kept Mr Tuffin’s family and the Coroner updated as the investigation progressed.