British coroner criticizes US government over death of teen motorcyclist Harry Dunn in 2019
A British coroner has criticized the U.S. government over a lack of training for diplomatic personnel at the conclusion of an inquest into a road accident in August 2019
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A British coroner criticized the U.S. government on Thursday over a lack of training for diplomatic personnel at the conclusion of an inquest into a road accident in August 2019 that saw a teenage motorcyclist killed by one of its employees.
At the end of the four-day inquiry into the accident outside RAF Croughton, an air base in eastern England that is used by U.S. forces, Northamptonshire coroner Anne Pember recorded the death of 19-year-old Harry Dunn as being as a result of “injuries sustained during a head-on collision” with a car being driven on the wrong side of the road.
Unlike in the United States, drivers in the United Kingdom drive on the left-hand side of the road.
In a statement that was read at the inquest, the driver, Anne Sacoolas, had admitted to police that she “drove like an American” and that she had not received any training about driving in the U.K.
Sacoolas, who told police that she worked as an analyst for the U.S. State Department, declined to make the journey to the U.K. from the U.S. for the inquest.
“I made a tragic mistake that I will live with every single day for the rest of my life," she said in a written statement to the inquiry. "There is not a single day that goes by that Harry is not on my mind and I am deeply sorry for the pain that I have caused.”
Sacoolas and her husband, an American intelligence officer, returned to the U.S. 19 days after the accident. The U.S. government had invoked diplomatic immunity on her behalf, prompting an outcry in Britain.
Sacoolas pleaded guilty by video link of causing death by careless driving in Dec. 2022 at London’s Central Criminal Court after being advised by the U.S. administration against making the trip. She was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, with the judge in the case reducing the penalty because of Sacoolas’ guilty plea and previous good character.
Speaking outside the court Thursday, Dunn’s mother, Charlotte Charles, reiterated her “disgust” at Sacoolas’ and the U.S. Embassy’s decision not to attend the inquest, labelling it “disrespectful” to her son.
“It further bolsters my opinion that they have no regard for myself or my family, our wider family,” she said. "They just don’t care.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.