Death crash DC fined by force

Jan 30 2008 Western Mail

A DETECTIVE constable who was driving an unmarked police car when it hit a 43-year-old man, causing him fatal injuries, has been fined £1,077.

The fine, which amounts to 13 days’ pay, is the maximum Dyfed-Powys Police could impose on Ashley Scott Brice, who was found guilty of driving without due care and attention at Caernarfon Crown Court in August.

Gareth Edward James, 43, had been driving a Vauxhall Astra on the A483 near Dolfor, Powys, when it collided with Brice’s Ford Mondeo on October 10 2005. Mr James suffered multiple injuries and died on the way to hospital.

Brice, of Kerry, Newtown, Powys, was banned from driving for a year and fined £2,000 by the court.

The police force conducted an internal hearing after the trial’s conclusion to set the additional fine imposed on him.

He will retake his driving test after serving his ban, then do driver retraining with the force, who will assess him before he is allowed to return to driving duties.

Tom Davies, Independent Police Complaints Commissioner for Wales, said, “Our thoughts are with Gareth James’s family, who suffered a terrible loss as a result of DC Brice’s driving.

“Police forces campaign on road safety issues and it is right that the public should expect police officers to both uphold and respect driving laws.”

A police spokeswoman said, “Dyfed-Powys Police wishes to sincerely apologise to the family of Gareth James for the loss of his life as a result of the actions of a serving officer.

“We understand that the officer involved also wishes to offer his apologies to the family for his conduct.”