A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been cleared of causing the death of a pensioner by careless driving

PC Daniel Bowen, 29, attached to the Met’s North East Basic Command Unit, was found not guilty of causing death by careless driving on 25 February following a trial at the Old Bailey. The trial was in relation to a fatal collision that took place on 15 July 2020 in High Street North, East Ham, when 83-year-old Peter Dawe was struck by the wing mirror of the police carrier van being driven by PC Bowen while using the traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing. PC Bowen was slowly turning right on a green light into Ron Leighton Way when the collision happened. The impact caused Mr Dawe to fall backwards and bang his head. PC Bowen immediately stopped the vehicle and he and other officers from the van carried out first aid on Mr Dawe until paramedics from the London Ambulance Service attended and took him to an east London hospital. Despite the best effort of medical professionals, Mr Dawe died from his injuries on 3 August 2020. Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Tucker, who is in charge of policing the North East Basic Command Unit (Newham and Waltham Forest), said: “Mr Dawe’s death was a tragedy and our thoughts very much remain with his loved ones. "PC Bowen, who has expressed absolute remorse for the death of Mr Dawe, has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, but he will now face a gross misconduct hearing where a panel will decide if his actions on that day fell below the high standard we expect from our officers.” PC Bowen remains on restricted duties. Misconduct proceedings will now take place as soon as possible.