PC caused serious crash in escaped prisoner pursuit
BBCA police officer who was deployed after a man escaped prison has avoided jail for causing a crash which left a member of the public with serious injuries.
PC Daniel Fortune, of Avon and Somerset Police, drove through a red light at speed while responding to a 999 call in an unmarked police car on Bristol's A4 Portway on 6 September 2023.
The driver of the vehicle he crashed into was seriously injured and a passenger in Fortune's Volvo XC90 was also hurt.
PC Fortune, 41, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, at Gloucester Crown Court on Monday.
The officer was also banned from driving for a year.
Avon and Somerset Police said PC Fortune had been responding to an emergency alert, which was issued in relation to the escaped prisoner and wanted man Daniel Khalife - in an attempt to ensure he did not leave the country.
Following the incident, a mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct who carried out an investigation into the circumstances.
Following their enquiries, the case was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service who authorised the charge.
Det Supt Larisa Hunt, head of Avon and Somerset Police's professional standards department, said: "The collision left a woman with very serious injuries from which she's still recovering and our thoughts are with her.
"Police officers are expected at all times to follow national and local guidance, and their training, when responding to emergency incidents."
She added that an accelerated misconduct hearing would be held later this month.
PC Fortune was charged following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which then referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service.
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