Darlington cop killed pensioner racing through red light on 999 call to baby

Darlington cop killed pensioner racing through red light on 999 call to babyPC Mark Roberts was jailed for speeding through a red light while responding to a 999 call where he smashed into an elderly couple and killed a 74-year-old womanNewsOlivia Bridge Reporter in Live News Network07:56, 12 Apr 2026Updated 07:56, 12 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesPC Mark Roberts has been jailed(Image: PA)A police officer who raced through the streets in response to a call about a choking baby has been jailed after his car crashed into a motorbike and killed a woman.‌PC Mark Roberts of Northumbria Police was responding to the grade-one emergency call when his marked car smashed into an elderly couple, Ronald and Muriel Pinkney, as they rode their motorbike in Gateshead, north East, on July 8, 2022.‌A court heard how Roberts, from Darlington, was driving at 43mph on the 30mph stretch of road near the MetroCentre. As he approached the lights, he was driving around 25mph when his car crashed into the couple, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.‌Mrs Pinkney, 74, tragically suffered fatal injuries to her head and neck in the horror smash which occurred on a 30mph stretch of road near the MetroCentre. Mr Pinkney also sustained injuries, including a bleed on the brain and several fractures.The cop has since been prosecuted and convicted of of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, Birmingham Live reports, despite a plea from the couple's daughter not to send him to prison.Roberts was arrested after the collision and answered 'no comment' to questions during his police interview but provided a prepared statement.‌In it, he said the ambulance service had requested assistance about a choking five-week-old baby, which indicated paramedics did not believe they could get to the patient before police.Roberts said he took his marked vehicle from Whickham police station, activated his blue lights and sirens, changing the tone of t...