UK man fined for being run over by police car

Post Reply New Topic

Pedestrian hit by police car suffers broken foot - and £80 penalty for 'denting' vehicle
By LUKE SALKELD
Daily Mail

Last updated at 01:12am on 4th September 2007

When a pedestrian was hit by a police car which mounted the pavement, it was obvious who was going to come off worse.

After suffering a broken foot in the collision, however, Daniel Horne thought all the damage had been done.

Until he received an £80 fine - for denting the vehicle.

Yesterday the 28-year-old businessman told of his shock at being penalised for being hit by the marked car.

Mr Horne had been walking home in June when the marked police car mounted the pavement and crushed his foot under the wheel.

An apologetic officer then took him to hospital where he spent three hours being treated for his damaged foot.

Mr Horne, who runs his own courier firm, was injured on his way home from a night out with friends.

A flat tyre meant he and his friends were forced to pull over and leave the vehicle's warning lights flashing as they walked along a quiet village road seeking assistance.

Mr Horne recalled: "Apparently somebody saw us and thought we were dumping the car and they rang the police.

"I was just walking along the pavement and heard the police car siren coming behind us.

"The next thing I knew was that the police car came onto the pavement to stop us.

"The car hit my right leg and I fell over - with my foot being crushed under the front wheel of the patrol car.

"It was agony and my foot was in a hell of a state. We explained to the police that we were innocent and they quickly found out we were telling the truth."

The police driver took Daniel to hospital for treatment to his foot after the accident at Beddau, near Pontypridd, South Wales and waited with him.

"The copper was very helpful and was there with me for about three hours while the doctors examined me," Mr Horne said.

"My metatarsal was completely crushed and I was put in a cast.

"He gave me a lift back but then told me: 'Sorry but I've got to do this to cover myself.'

"I was amazed when he issued me with the £80 fixed penalty notice.

<snip>

The fine ticket reads: "You ran into the n/s [near side] front wing of a marked police vehicle causing a dent."

Mr Horne, of Llanharry, South Wales, added: "It is a complete joke - who the hell would run into a police car made out of solid metal?

"I was in agony with my foot broken in bits and I end up being fined for my body damaging the police car.

<snip>

He has been unable to work since the accident - and is planning to sue police over his injury.

Daniel said: "There is no way I'm going to pay the fixed penalty fine. I've spoken to my solicitor and I'm going to fight it all the way."

A South Wales Police spokeswoman said: "A fixed penalty was issued for criminal damage.

"We have received a complaint from Mr Horne and are looking into it."

Click here for full article

at least they didnt get him on an obstruction charge

oh my god that is stupid, was police fault for running him over, he shoudlnt of got fined for it

Grrr! Absolutely disgraceful.

now that would be something happening in America as their that stupid.... but in the UK...

Eh?! Whats going on

It's summary justice that's gradually replacing the now rather politically-anachronistic idea that the state actually has to prove you're guilty of something, before fining or incarcerating you!

That's disgusting!! I've been nearly hit by a car twice in the past year, but they weren't police cars. One guy did yell at me when he nearly hit me, though. My dog nearly got hit too. I yelled, "WTF!?!?" and he yelled back at me that I shouldn't have been crossing the street. The pedestrian light was on! But this was in Texas . . .

Thats awful. If I was that cop I was feel like a discrace, a horrible person.

How could that cop have the balls to then issue the ticket after running the guy over and say 'im doing this to protect myself' That cop has some serious balls.

I hope that man gets pain and suffering damages, as well as hospital bill covered and should get a little extra for incnvience, I really hope that poor man gets what he deserves.

If I was that cop I would would feel absolutly guilty for running over that man, and probably would not even be able to look myself in the mirror after saying that stupid thing about protecting myself an charging that man.

Ohh ya, and to jess162k7, that statement about america is pretty stupid. I mean, we may have slight cultural differences but I think any human can do stupid, selfish things.

Not really sure why you would say such a thing, but being an American, and a decent human being I took a little offence to that. I always try to abstain from saying such things on message boards, i know sometimes things can come out wrong, and others may miss interperate, but you gotta sometimes edit to assume that can happen.

No, actually it happened in your neck of the woods. While it's possible there are American cops that are as stupid as yours, the story speaks for itself.
How ironic you comment on stupid Americans when you can't even use the correct "they're"?

he should sue them for wrong use of unofficial speed bump [eg,his foot].

Friend of mine spent the night in the nick after being hit by a police car that was obstructed from view by an illegally parked riot van.

The police often demonstrate a complete disregard for the driving laws and regulations.

I would just like to say that being fined for getting hit by a car is really stupid!!

It's like fining someone for getting beaten up in an alley way and the bully charging you for breaking his hand by him punching your forehead, or something ELSE that they can't control.