Pensioner ‘so sorry’ after killing police detective in crash, court hears

A pensioner who "got it woefully wrong" when attempting to turn across a junction caused the death of a Humberside Police detective after pulling directly into the path of her motorcycle. Forty-nine-year-old Karen Smith had been riding home from work when Laurence Green, a former bus driver, emerged from a junction straight into her path, leaving her no opportunity to avoid the collision, Hull Live reports.[1] Green, 72, of Littleham Close, Bransholme, Hull, believed he had time to complete a right-hand turn but "got it woefully wrong", with the "awful consequences" described in court as he admitted causing the death of Detective Constable Smith by careless driving on December 18, 2024.

Grimsby Crown Court heard that the roads were dark at around 5.05pm as Green was driving a Honda Insight vehicle on the A1033 to pick up his long-term partner, aged 84.

Meanwhile, Det Con Smith was riding her blue Yamaha motorcycle home after completing a shift with the major crime team at Melton, Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, described. Green turned right at a junction of the A1033 with the B1240 at Thorn Road, Hedon, at about 5.06pm, driving into the path of the oncoming motorcycle as there was not enough time to complete the right-hand turn. There was a "loud bang" as the motorcycle hit the front of the car.

The court was told that Green would have had about 268 metres, the equivalent of 10 seconds, to see the headlight of the motorcycle approaching. His female passenger told him "Laurence - there is a bike" moments before the impact, which left Det Con Smith with "serious, unsurvivable injuries". The 49-year-old was thrown from her motorcycle and died at the scene.

Karen, who had been married for 23 years, with two children, was an experienced motorcyclist. "The defendant failed to give way to the approaching motorcycle and turned into its path," Mr Evans explained. "He was apologetic about the whole incident." Green said at the scene: "I didn't see them.

They came out of nowhere. I wasn't going fast. I am so sorry."

Mitigating, Glenn Parson said that Green felt heartfelt sorrow for what happened. "He sends out deep remorse to the family, friends and colleagues of Karen Smith," said Mr Parsons. "Never in his wildest nightmares would he imagine that he would be in court, let alone in a case where someone has lost their life. He does not intend ever to drive again.

"He hasn't sought to spin this out and make excuses and he hopes that this will assist the family to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and move on. He only wishes that he could turn back the clock but, sadly, life doesn't work like this. "He has replayed this incident thousands of times in his mind since that fatal day in December 2024."

The pensioner had previously worked as a bus driver, an HGV driver and a taxi driver, and had no previous convictions. The court was told of his "wholly unblemished" clean driving licence.

"He ordinarily takes his responsibilities as a driver very, very seriously indeed," added Mr Parsons. "On the night in question, he made a terrible error of judgement and what he is saying is that he did see what turned out to be a motorcycle but he thought it was a lot further away than it actually was. This manoeuvre wasn't safe.

"He has not tried to minimise at all what has happened. He will never drive again. He vows never to drive again.

He will never forget that night. Karen Smith has been at the very forefront of his mind since that day in December 2024." Judge Gurdial Singh told the court: "He thought he could get across and made a tragic miscalculation, which had awful consequences.

He has calculated what he thought he could do and got it woefully wrong. "This is an incredibly sad case, involving, as it does, the tragic loss of a life. The consequences of that carelessness could not have been more devastating, resulting in the death of Karen Smith."

Speaking to Green, the judge continued: "The cause of this tragic collision was your turning across a motorbike, which had the right of way. You made a tragic miscalculation and allowed insufficient time to complete the manoeuvre, causing the collision. "It was entirely your fault.

This was not an intentional act on your part. I do accept that your remorse is entirely genuine. You have accepted full responsibility from first to last."

Det Con Smith was "deeply respected", and her death has brought "utter devastation" to her family. Green was handed a one-year suspended prison sentence, and he was banned from driving for two years. At the time of the incident, Humberside Police Federation said: "Karen was a well-liked and popular colleague and was recognised by all who knew and worked with her as being tremendously hard working and dedicated.

She showed an incredible level of compassion for victims of crime and tirelessly pursued justice for them. "These attributes made her stand out as a truly outstanding detective. She had, for 16 years, worked tirelessly for the communities of Humberside, both as an investigating officer, police community support officer and then, from 2015, as an officer.

"She had the respect of all those who worked with her." The news of her death was "truly devastating" and she was "much-loved".

References

1. ^ Hull Live reports. (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)