Beaconsfield Coroner’s Court was informed that supermarket manager Kimberley Cameron, 27, was struck by a car driven by PC Philip Duthie with its sirens activated on April 16 of last year.
The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) has now determined that the car accident that resulted in her death was a tragic accident.
The involved Thames Valley Police (TVP) vehicle, driven by PC Duthie with PC Matthew Watson in the passenger seat, was en route to reports of a car crash in Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire, with children trapped inside, according to the inquest.
Ms. Cameron was jogging along the road on the outskirts of Aylesbury that evening when she approached a pedestrian crossing.
Witnesses saw her cross the road while the lights were green, but she was unaware that the police car was traveling on the wrong side of the road at approximately 60 miles per hour as it crossed the intersection and slammed into her, launching her into the air.
Ms. Cameron was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics from Thames Valley Air Ambulance, and a post-mortem examination revealed that she died from multiple injuries.
Wednesday’s inquest revealed that following the IOPC’s investigation, no disciplinary action was taken against PC Duthie.
The officer stated at the inquest, “I would never wish what happened on anyone.”
“As a result, the IOPC has launched an investigation to determine whether any wrongdoing occurred. As a result, I have seriously considered a career in law enforcement.
After less than three hours of deliberation on the final day of the four-day trial, the jury returned a verdict stating that the cause of death was a traffic accident.
They emphasized that a stationary line of traffic to the left of the police car impeded the visibility of both parties.
Ms. Cameron’s parents, Liane and Kevin, stated following the conclusion of the inquest, “We have been extremely disappointed and shocked by the IOPC’s incompetence in investigating Kimberley’s death on April 16, 2021, when she was killed by PC Duthie.”
“It was evident from the outset of their investigation that the IOPC had chosen the path of least resistance.
‘If it wasn’t for our insistence and persistence, the IOPC would have allowed TVP to conduct their own Road Traffic Collision report.
‘The coroner’s inquest and a TVP expert witness have clearly highlighted several areas where the IOPC have missed basic pieces of evidence.
“This evidence demonstrates that PC Duthie did not follow fundamental national guidelines or his training,”
If he had, Kimberley would be alive today without a doubt. Unfortunately, the law prohibits the coroner and the jury from assigning fault or liability.
“In light of this and the pitiful investigation conducted by the IOPC, we strongly urge TVP to review the case and the new evidence presented at the coroner’s inquest,” the letter reads.
The couple added that they are “personally reaching out” to the local Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, who has a “duty to hold your officers accountable,” according to them.
They stated, “Without accountability, your organization cannot learn, prevent future deaths, or earn public trust.”
In addition, they urged Ms. Cameron’s representative, Rob Butler, and the government to examine the IOPC.
“They are not fit for purpose – lawyers, police, and the public are all aware of this.”
The time has come to take action, and only the government can do so.
Nothing will ever change if individuals and organizations are not held accountable.
We recognize that none of this can bring Kimberley back, but we hope that no other family has to go such a harrowing ordeal as we did.
Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, eulogizing their daughter, said, “Kimberley was an extraordinary young woman who seized every opportunity to test her limitations and live life to the fullest.”
We are incredibly proud of the strong, independent woman that she has become.
“She was not only a daughter and sister, but also a great friend; her contagious grin illuminated every place she entered and warmed the hearts of many.”
“Kimberley’s untimely loss was not only tragic for us, but also for many others.”
In a statement made after today’s inquest, an IOPC spokesperson defended their investigation into Kimberley’s death.
The official stated that Ms. Cameron may have been listening to music at the time of the deadly collision because her earbuds were discovered near her body.
An IOPC investigation determined that a TVP officer who was responding to an emergency call when his vehicle was involved in a fatal incident acted in compliance with the relevant policies and procedures.
“An inquest that completed today at the Beaconsfield Coroner’s Court ruled Kimberley Cameron died in a car accident.
Following the incident on the A41 Bicester Road in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, TVP referred us.
“According to our inquiry, which finished in February 2022, the officer was responding to a complaint of a car accident on the A41 near Waddesdon, where two children were trapped in a burning vehicle.
The call was classified as grade 1, requiring an immediate response within 15 minutes.
The officer, who was driving a marked police vehicle, encountered slow-moving traffic and so drove into the opposite lane, where there was little traffic.
“His vehicle was traveling approximately 62 mph in a 40 mph zone with its lights and sirens activated when it struck Ms. Cameron as she passed between two halted cars on a pedestrian crossing when the traffic lights were green.”
It is thought that she was wearing her noise-canceling headphones because they were discovered nearby.
Even if the officer had been traveling at or below the speed limit, it seems likely that he would not have been able to stop in time to prevent colliding with Ms. Cameron. She was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
“In June 2021, Kimberley’s father filed an official complaint with the IOPC regarding the manner in which police officers were driving, specifically their speed and hazard perception. We concluded that the police service was satisfactory.’
Graham Beesley, regional director of the IOPC, stated, “All of our evidence indicates that Kimberley’s death was a tragic accident.”
Our investigation was conducted independently of the police in an effort to comprehend the events leading up to the collision.
‘We found the officer who was driving acted appropriately and in line with the Thames Valley Police Driver Policy.
“The material we gathered was handed to the coroner to aid with the inquest procedures, and we hope that it has helped address some of the questions Kimberley’s family had about that day.”
“Investigators obtained and analyzed audio-visual evidence, including dashcam and body-worn camera footage,” the statement continued. In addition, police officers, medical professionals, and people at the scene provided witness accounts.
The technical evidence and data will be examined by a forensic collision investigator from an outside force.
Local and national regulations and procedures were analyzed in conjunction with the law to establish if the method of driving was lawful.