Car crash PC: Siren was on in OAP collision
Court told pedestrian didn’t see lights or hear police horn before accident
A POLICE officer struck a pensioner with his patrol car while driving on the wrong side of the road, a court heard.
PC Paul McNabb was chasing a suspected attacker when he smashed his panda car into Nicholas Flavin as the OAP crossed the street in Edinburgh city centre.
McNabb claims he had his lights and siren on as he sped along the opposite carriageway of London Road.
But the 72-year-old victim and his wife Ruth said the PC had failed to activate his lights and they “didn’t hear a siren” as they made their way towards the Playhouse Theatre last April.
Following the collision, Mr Flavin, from Stow, in the Borders, spent two nights in hospital receiving treatment to his injuries, including a broken foot.
The officer was chasing an assault suspect along London Road when he decided to overtake traffic and drive on the wrong carriageway, leading to the accident.
McNabb is standing trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court accused of driving without due care and attention on April 20 last year.
Mr Flavin told the court last month: “I crossed the road carefully as there was a low sun. I was almost over when I was hit by a police car.”
Retired teacher Mrs Flavin, 62, told the court: “The driver saw my husband too late and he slammed on the brakes. He slid silently towards him. I didn’t notice the police car’s lights on and I didn’t hear a siren.
“But when the policeman got out of the car, he said he had his emergency lights on.
“But I wasn’t aware of them at the time. I could be 99 per cent certain there was no siren as he glided towards my husband. I remember the silence of it all.”
Giving evidence on Friday, police road expert Inspector Vincent Fisher said the car’s onboard computer recorded McNabb driving at a top speed of 30mph prior to the collision and that the lights and sirens had been activated at some point.
He added he could not be certain they were on at the point of impact.
The trial continues.