Tactical advisor thought 130mph motorway chase which ended in double fatal crash was 'not dangerous'
07.07.2022 - 10:13
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A tactical advisor believed a police chase reaching speeds of 130mph was "not dangerous" to those involved or members of the public, just minutes before a double fatal crash.
An inquest into the death of Brandon Pryde, known as Brandon Geasley, heard how tactical advisor D9, who has been granted anonymity in the court, assisted the pursuing officers by giving them advice to continue the chase, discussing ways to bring the pursuit to an end.
Tragically, 18-year-old Brandon left the M60 at junction 27, heading round the roundabout before heading back down the motorway in the wrong direction, smashing head-first into a red Vauxhall driven by David Faulkner. Both men died at the scene. PC Jennifer Barrow previously gave evidence to the court from her role as the pursuing officer.
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She detailed how she lost sight of the stolen BMW X4 Brandon was driving, in what she described as a "dangerous" manner during her evidence, after she followed him off the motorway at junction 27. The officer known as D9 was the tactical advisor that evening, offering advice to officers involved in pursuits and helping to assess the risks involved with a chase to ensure no one came to harm.
Whilst giving evidence at Manchester South Coroner's Court on Wednesday, July 6, D9 said he did not perceive the chase, which reached speeds of 130mph on the M60 - almost twice the speed limit, to be dangerous as there was "light traffic" on the road at that time. He said: "The speed alone is not dangerous, and a motorway at quarter past ten at night is not dangerous.
"Doing 60 on the A6 in Stockport at rush hour when there's busy traffic and pedestrians is dangerous but at that time we made a risk