A Greater Manchester Police officer will appear in court after allegedly mistaking a pedestrian for a speed bump during a late-night game of blue light roulette through Rochdale.
PC Sam Lockley, 34, was behind the wheel of a marked police car when it allegedly collided with a pedestrian on Drake Street around 3:30am on 19 November 2023. The incident occurred during a pursuit of a suspected drink-driver, because what better way to deter dangerous driving than by staging your own high-octane demolition derby?
The pedestrian, who authorities confirm was doing the unthinkable by being upright in public at that hour, suffered serious injuries and has been undergoing extensive medical treatment. Sources say the only thing more bruised than the victim is the reputation of traffic safety in Greater Manchester.
PC Lockley appears before Liverpool Magistrates Court today, where proceedings began into the incident. It’s unclear what was said in court, though we assume it involved the words “unfortunate,” “inadvisable,” and “how fast were you going, exactly?”
Greater Manchester Police declined to comment further, but internal memos reportedly advise officers to “try and avoid hitting people unless strictly necessary.”
Local residents are said to be cautiously optimistic that next week’s police pursuits might involve fewer pedestrians and more working brakes.
More on this story as it develops, assuming Rochdale’s pavements, and Times survive the week.
