Harry Dunn: Second police investigation after claims another US military employee drove on wrong side of road
The 501st Combat Support Wing and RAF Croughton say they are "co-operating fully" with a police investigation.
Friday 24 April 2020 01:28, UK
The US military base close to where teenager Harry Dunn died in a collision is "co-operating fully" with police following claims another employee drove on the wrong side of the road before crashing into a wall.
A photograph shows a black BMW on a grass verge beside a stone wall in the village of Aynho in Northamptonshire.
Close examination of the picture appears to show damage to the vehicle's front left wing.
It is only a couple of miles from RAF Croughton, near where 19-year-old Harry died in a collision with a car while riding his motorcycle. It is alleged the car was on the wrong side of the road.
Andrea Leadsom, the Dunn family's MP, is due to speak to Northamptonshire Police on Thursday about the latest incident, PA news agency reported.
The former business secretary is also reportedly attempting to arrange a virtual meeting between the Dunn family and the base commander at RAF Croughton, Colonel Bridget McNamara.
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Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US intelligence official, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving over the incident involving Harry.
She was allowed to return home to the US following the crash after claiming diplomatic immunity.
An extradition request from the Home Office was rejected by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in January.
In the same month, the chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, Nick Adderley, announced there had been two further incidents of American staff driving on the wrong side of the road since Mr Dunn's death.
Video emerged appearing to show such an incident.
Mr Adderley has said he will fund driver training at RAF Croughton in an attempt to prevent similar incidents.
A spokeswoman for RAF Croughton said: "While Northamptonshire Police has the lead, the 501st Combat Support Wing and RAF Croughton are co-operating fully on the investigation of yesterday's vehicle incident in Aynho.
"We will continue to partner with Northamptonshire Police and apply corrective measures as needed.
"The 501st Combat Support Wing remains committed to the safety of US and UK personnel, both on our bases and in the surrounding communities."
Dunn family spokesman Radd Seiger claimed the "UK government are failing in their duty to protect and safeguard our lives", adding: "What is it going to take before something is done?"
He added: "I have made it clear to them that enough is enough and they must do whatever it takes, this being British soil, to make sure that the Americans drive in accordance with our laws when they come off the base."
A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman said the force was called at 7.45pm on Wednesday to "reports of a road traffic collision in Aynho involving a BMW 5 Series colliding with a fence".
She added: "We deployed to the scene and are investigating the incident in line with our usual road traffic collision procedures.
"Thankfully no one was injured as a result of the collision."
A government spokesperson said: "We are in contact with the police and the US embassy about this incident.
"The government has been clear with the US about the importance of effective road safety measures at the base to prevent future tragedies."