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Police car crash victim was due to sit exam today

10:11am Tuesday 20th May 2008

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A 16-YEAR-old girl who died after being hit by a police car was due to sit her GCSE English exam today.

Hayley Adamson died in hospital after she was hit crossing a road at 11.20pm last night.

Police in Newcastle have appealed for calm after violence flared and an officer fired his Taser gun immediately following the accident.

An Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation has begun into the crash.

Hayley, a pupil at Sacred Heart High School, was with friends when she was hit by the car on Denton Road, Newcastle.

Tributes were laid outside the home she shared with her mother on Cedar Road, Fenham.

An IPCC spokesman said a Northumbria Police driver had been responding to the activation of his vehicles automatic number plate recognition system.

Gary Garland IPCC Commissioner for the North East said: "It is unclear at this stage whether the cars emergency warning equipment was activated.

"Ms Adamson was crossing the road with friends when the collision occurred.

"Following the collision there was an incident involving a member of the public at the scene which culminated in a police officer discharging a Taser stun gun.

"A 23-year-old man has been arrested.

"The IPCC will also examine the circumstances involving this incident.

"This is a terrible tragedy and my sympathies go out to Ms Adamson's family and friends and all those involved in the incident.

"The IPCC's investigators have been at the scene since early this morning following the referral of the case by Northumbria Police.

"We will undertake a thorough independent investigation into all the circumstances of the incident."

Northumbria Police said the driver was alone in a marked Volvo T5 patrol car at the time of the accident.

Chief Superintendent Paul Wier said the officer had gone off duty and was being investigated by the IPCC. He appealed for calm.

He said: "Emotions are running high that is understandable.

"We have a lot of police out on the streets at the moment and would like to reassure the community that their streets are safe.

"There was a number of arrests made last night for violence and disorder immediately following the incident.

"People were distressed and some people were throwing bricks.

"The best thing everybody can do now is to keep calm and allow the IPCC to do their jobs and investigate this incident.

"The officer was alone in his car, he has gone off duty now and he will be investigated in due course."

He said no police equipment had been damaged during the violence and said the Crown Prosecution Service was considering whether to charge those arrested.

He said no one was arrested in connection with the death itself.

Roads around the collision scene were closed as investigators gathered evidence and traffic diversions were in place.

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Your Say YourThe Northern Echo

Steve, Cymru says...
6:24pm Tue 20 May 08

This is yet another tragic blunder by the UK's police forces. Why do they (the police) think that they are above the law. This officer killed this poor girl and so should get the same punishment as any other driver.
Haley's family must be distraught and the guy who the police Tazzered should be released without charge, the police would have batten charged anyone hurting one of thier own I'm sure.

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thomas scott, durham says...
6:48pm Tue 20 May 08

This is a bad tragic accident bet the police oficer gets away with this but if it was someone else there would be done l have knew hayley for years and she had her full life to live at the minute l am just shocked has the family has had to much stress and the poor lass gets killed by a stupid copper not taking notice of the road hope he gets sent down for life he needs sent down for it just my blessing goes out to all the adamson's at the minute god bless you all release the lad in police station you would even kickoff with police if that happened l know l would xxmwahxx

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Paul, Darlington says...
7:07pm Tue 20 May 08

Steve and Thomas. You were there were you? No everything about it do you? I wasn't but I feel sure the officer did not deliberatly kill the poor girl. I feel sorry for the family but think how the officer feels.
Steve. Where makes you think that the police are above the law? He will be dealt with the same way as anybody else involved in an accident.

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steve, north east england says...
7:12pm Tue 20 May 08

if this officer is over 50 he will probably leave the force due to ill health so he can pick up his pension.I dont believe in accidents,
bad driving, driving without due care and attention,causing death by dangerous driving these are terms that police use.My prayers go out to all concerned.I do have to ask tho what was a girl 16 years of age doing out at 11.20pm
that is a question her parents will ask for as long as they live.god bless her and the tosser who was behind the wheel of a very fast weapon

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andrea, says...
8:00pm Tue 20 May 08

My heart goes out to the girls family, but why have a go at the police in general? If it was a middle aged lady would you then have a go at all middle aged ladies?
And i know of an 11 year old girl who was knocked down and killed by a drink driver when she was on her way home from school. He was banned from driving for 3 years and fined £300.
so not everyone is severly punished.

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Victor, Middlesbrough says...
8:18pm Tue 20 May 08

Nothing has been said about the person the police officer was chasing. He should take some of the blame.If he had killed the girl, the police would still be blamed for chasing him.

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anne, durham says...
8:57pm Tue 20 May 08

its all good and well blaming the police but until all the facts are known i think everybody should hold judgement till then, my sympathies go to the families of the girl and the police officer

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Dan, gateshead says...
9:12pm Tue 20 May 08

Steve hit the nail on the head, very sad story but the papers are making a fuss of her sitting her GCSE's today, if thats the case then what the hell was she out at 11.20pm at night and more to the point what was her mum doing about it?

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this is wrong, NEWCASTLE says...
11:15pm Tue 20 May 08

Dan wrote:
Steve hit the nail on the head, very sad story but the papers are making a fuss of her sitting her GCSE's today, if thats the case then what the hell was she out at 11.20pm at night and more to the point what was her mum doing about it?
The police etc have been driving around newcastle far too fast over the last few years, the drivers may have been on advanced courses but we can only cross a road so fast ! that why its 30 mph (as they keep telling us) the officer should have been charged at the scene of the CRIME like A.N Other would have been. So response time is now measured in lives !! (RIP.xx)

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Dan, Gateshead says...
11:33pm Tue 20 May 08

I make no bones on behalf of the police officer, and I reiterate, why would anyone be out on the streets of Denton at half 11 at night? The law does not state that someone guilty of knocking a pedestrian over is charged with anything until the facts are proven, obviously they would be taken in for questioning but nothing more. Im saddened by the death of someone so young, but why is everyone blaming the police for responding to a crime? Ive seen countless pillock boyracers nail it along that road. Complete generalism here but Im betting half the people complaining about the Police either have failed an application to the Police, or they have been on the wrong side of an officer.

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this is wrong, newcastle says...
12:12am Wed 21 May 08

What has the time got to do with the death of a young girl? what a young lady was doing has
nothing to do with it is it illegal to be a
a young woman out at 11.30 or so.

Quote..."or they have been on the wrong side of an officer" to be on the wrong side does not always mean doing anything wrong does it! and people dont deserve to die just coz they our out at 11.30 or so.

I would like reiterate too ! the word Fool and police officer sound about right at this point Err "as far as i can remember" is another good one for you to write down in you book.



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this is wrong, newcastle says...
12:12am Wed 21 May 08

What has the time got to do with the death of a young girl? what a young lady was doing has
nothing to do with it is it illegal to be a
a young woman out at 11.30 or so.

Quote..."or they have been on the wrong side of an officer" to be on the wrong side does not always mean doing anything wrong does it! and people dont deserve to die just coz they our out at 11.30 or so.

I would like reiterate too ! the word Fool and police officer sound about right at this point Err "as far as i can remember" is another good one for you to write down in you book.



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gary, newcastle says...
12:13am Wed 21 May 08

What has the time got to do with the death of a young girl? what a young lady was doing has
nothing to do with it is it illegal to be a
a young woman out at 11.30 or so.

Quote..."or they have been on the wrong side of an officer" to be on the wrong side does not always mean doing anything wrong does it! and people dont deserve to die just coz they our out at 11.30 or so.

I would like reiterate too ! the word Fool and police officer sound about right at this point Err "as far as i can remember" is another good one for you to write down in you book.



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gary, newcastle says...
12:17am Wed 21 May 08

I am sorry about my post being repeated, i had a page error and was asked to enter the
details again. looks like the 1st time worked.

sorry.

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Kathrine, Carlisle says...
8:45am Wed 21 May 08

Victor wrote:
Nothing has been said about the person the police officer was chasing. He should take some of the blame.If he had killed the girl, the police would still be blamed for chasing him.
That is true. At least the officer wasn't just driving like an idiot for the sake of it like most people, or drunk, or on drugs.
There is no excuse and I am sure he will be dealt with harshly, lose his job and lose his pension.
As for some people saying the person who got tazzered should be released without charge, that is ridiculous. Causing riots and putting other people's lives in danger will not change the past.
This was a terrible accident and I am sure that officer will never forget.

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Tracey, Newcastle says...
9:07am Wed 21 May 08

At 16 you can legally move out of home and live by yourself...so why is it so wrong to be wandering around the streets with your friends at night at 16? The IPCC report han't been published yet but i know what happened after speaking to eye witnesses, friends of my family who wouldn't lie. Some of these postings make me so mad as some people just don't have a clue. I'll miss Hayley more than words can say.

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gary, newcastle says...
10:35am Wed 21 May 08

Your quite right Tracy. The police do drive around like loonies and use radios when driving, using bus lanes, parking anywhere.
They are above the law its as simple as that.
I do feel for the officer too as he is the one who got unlucky. Yes some of posts above are from fools who know no better. Its a speed limit for a reason and for all road users.

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gary, newcastle says...
10:40am Wed 21 May 08

sorry for got to say..
"As for some people saying the person who got tazzered should be released without charge, that is ridiculous"
this device should not have been used, how to make matters worse, the guy could have been in shock, another stupid post by another stupid person.

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chris, Middlesbrough says...
2:04pm Wed 21 May 08

andrea wrote:
My heart goes out to the girls family, but why have a go at the police in general? If it was a middle aged lady would you then have a go at all middle aged ladies? And i know of an 11 year old girl who was knocked down and killed by a drink driver when she was on her way home from school. He was banned from driving for 3 years and fined £300. so not everyone is severly punished.
He was banned from driving for 3 years and fined £300.
so not everyone is severly punished

So this Police officer will be banned from the force for 3 years or driving for 3 years and fined? I don't think so, you can guarantee he will be back at work with no punishment. It will just be called a tragic accident. Remember the infamous tube station incident a few years ago? they got away with murder that time and will get away with this.

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nesta, says...
2:49pm Wed 21 May 08

Tragic accident. Whoever was responsible should be punished but none of us were there so it's pointless to speculate and go on an anti-police rant.
The police are not perfect but those moaning would complain even more if we didn't have a police force.
So if you hate the police so much don't bother calling them then in an emergency.
They'll have more time then to tackle other crimes.

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DAVID EVANS, SOMERSET says...
2:56pm Wed 21 May 08

I feel that there are just too many Police action programmes they glamorise the Police and tell all boy racers, get the Police to chase you and you will be on television! What does it cost to have 5 Police cars and a Police helicopter chashing somebody who is known to them, smashing Police cars into stolen cars or just for not wearing a crash helmet on public ground then giving them a fine and ban!

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DAVID EVANS, SOMERSET says...
2:56pm Wed 21 May 08

I feel that there are just too many Police action programmes they glamorise the Police and tell all boy racers, get the Police to chase you and you will be on television! What does it cost to have 5 Police cars and a Police helicopter chashing somebody who is known to them, smashing Police cars into stolen cars or just for not wearing a crash helmet on public ground then giving them a fine and ban!

Report this post »

DAVID EVANS, SOMERSET says...
2:56pm Wed 21 May 08

I feel that there are just too many Police action programmes they glamorise the Police and tell all boy racers, get the Police to chase you and you will be on television! What does it cost to have 5 Police cars and a Police helicopter chashing somebody who is known to them, smashing Police cars into stolen cars or just for not wearing a crash helmet on public ground then giving them a fine and ban!

Report this post »

Barry, Irvine, Scotland. says...
4:47pm Wed 21 May 08

Very sad waste of life indeed. Speeding at about 100mph with no sirens or lights on. Shameful. Sadly the police get away with this kind of thing all the time. About 10 years ago the same thing happened in my home town, the police was on the wrong side of the road withouts lights and killed a young boy. The police driver was fined, and nothing else. Watch a cover up swing into action, as always.
Check out on the net how often police kill people this way. How many people have police killed in custody and never been charged ?? About 1,500 since 1960.

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paul, hastings says...
9:07pm Fri 6 Jun 08

Yes, it does seem that the police can literally get away with murder.Ive heard so many incidents over the the years,of people getting killed by speeding police cars,but you never hear of those involed being prosecuted,Apparentl


y,when a police chase ends in which a perp. is apprehended,its down to police highly trainer drivers.But when someone is killed by the police,so much for there special drivers.I know accidents do happen,but at the end of the day the police are human like the rest of us,and if they are going to fast for road conditions,then no matter how skilled they are they will make mistakes I believe adrenilin,,macho ego,play a big part,in police chases,and they will do anything to get there man,even if it means taking reckless risks.Remember the case ,two or three years ago,near Gatwick airport, of a police car running a red light,and plowing into a car leagally driving through the lights,killing a woman driver instantly,i think her husband was injured.As i recall,he campained for a conviction,but yet again,the police involved got away with it.

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davidh, newcastle, england says...
4:49pm Thu 12 Jun 08

I think this is a cover up. Why has it taken 3 weeks to establish the black box wasn't working? Surely they could have found that out in the first week of the investigation? I hope the policeman involved is sacked/asked to leave, loses his pension, and is prosecuted (which doesn't look likely now). And so what if a 16 year old girl was out after 11pm at night? She could have been revising at a friends house for all we know. The fact is a young girl is dead, and the police are to blame. Simple as that...

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