Policeman cleared by jury over 999-call road death

Pc John Wright, 40, was called to a report of an intruder at a house in Surrey when his car, with lights flashing and sirens blaring, collided with Archibald McIlveen.

The 75-year-old grandfather, who was crossing a 40mph stretch of dual carriageway near his son's house on his way to a nearby train station, was killed instantly.

It took the jury of six men and six women at Reading Crown Court just over two-and-a-half hours to find Wright, who lives on the Isle of Wight, not guilty of death by dangerous driving.

He was also cleared of an alternative charge of causing death by careless driving on the evening of November 4, 2008, on the Esher Road in Hersham, Surrey.

Wright broke down in tears as the jury forewoman read the verdicts to the court, covering his head in his hands.

Members of Mr McIlveen's family, including his son Andrew, listened to horrific details of the accident during the week-long trial and left court as the police officer was being cleared of all charges.

Mr McIlveen was described in court as a fit and healthy pensioner who had spent the day looking after his two grandchildren at their home after a babysitter let his son down.

He left the house at 7pm to catch a train to his home in Islington, north London, and was struck by Wright's patrol car shortly afterwards. The police officer was found crying by the side of the road .

Dog handler Simon Boylett, first on the scene, told the court Wright said: "I've killed someone", before adding: "He just walked out in front of me. There was nothing I could do."

The impact left the roof of the Ford Mondeo car buckled, with the windscreen smashed.

Wright, who joined Surrey Police in 2000 and lives with his family on Colwell Road, Freshwater, on the Isle of Wight, has previous off-duty convictions for speeding and using a mobile phone at the wheel.