Trump ‘will find solution’ to diplomat’s wife in fatal crash
Family of British teenager plan to travel to US to sue woman who hurried out of the country after accident
DONALD TRUMP has pledged to “find a way forward” in the diplomatic immunity row that has erupted after a British boy was killed in a car crash allegedly involving the wife of an American diplomat.
During a phone call with Boris Johnson yesterday, the US president said he was committed to finding a solution as soon as possible following the death of Harry Dunn and wished to send his condolences to the family.
At a press briefing in the White House, Mr Trump appeared to defend Anne Sacoolas, the suspect, by saying that Americans driving on the other side of the road in the UK “happens”.
When asked about the young motorcyclists death, he said: “The woman was driving on the wrong side of the road. And that can happen, those are the opposite roads … I won’t say it ever happens to me but it did.
“When you get used to driving on our system and then you’re all of a sudden … in the other system driving, it happens. You have to be careful.
“We’re going to speak to her very shortly and see if we can do something. “It was a terrible accident.” Mr Dunn’s parents said they would travel to Washington to launch legal action against the diplomat’s wife.
Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, whose son was killed in an accident in Northamptonshire on Aug 27, will make the trip in the coming days following a “disappointing” meeting with Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary.
Last night a Downing Street spokesman said Mr Johnson had personally asked Mr Trump to “reconsider the US position” to grant immunity to Mrs Sacoolas so that she can return “and allow Harry’s family to receive justice”.
The phone call took place just hours after Mr Dunn’s parents met with Mr Raab. After the meeting they voiced “disgust” with the British Government.
Ms Charles said: “I’m feeling disgusted, let down by the Government. I can’t see why we were invited to see Dominic Raab, because we are no further forward than this time last week. I feel it was just a publicity stunt on the UK Government’s part.”
Mr Raab said: “I share the frustration of Harry’s mother and father. They have lost their son and the justice process is not being allowed to properly run its course.
“We are continuing to press the US authorities for their cooperation.”
Mrs Sacoolas, 42, a mother-of-three, is under investigation for causing the death by dangerous driving of the 19-year-old. She reportedly drove a right-hand drive Volvo on the wrong side of the road for 400 yards before crashing into him. She received diplomatic immunity when she came to Britain a few weeks before the crash as the spouse of Jonathan Sacoolas, thought to work for either the CIA or National Security Agency.
The refusal of US authorities to lift immunity has left the family planning to sue in the US. Geoffrey Robertson QC, the leading international lawyer, said Mrs Sacoolas’s immunity only applies in the UK and does not prevent a civil claim in the US courts.
Mr Robertson, who offered advice to the family, said yesterday: “Mrs Sacoolas can be sued there [in the US] for negligent driving and causing the death … The family would be entitled to compensation and damages.”
Mrs Sacoolas had indicated the day after the crash that she was willing to cooperate with police. But it emerged that her diplomatic immunity would be an issue. On Sept 16, the Foreign Office was informed that immunity would remain in place and that Mrs Sacoolas and her family had left the UK.