Harry Dunn: Johnson to raise ‘driving habits’ of US staff near RAF base with Mike Pompeo
Nineteen-year-old Briton killed last year after being knocked off motorbike outside RAF Croughton
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Boris Johnson has said he will raise concerns over the “driving habits” of US personnel at a military base near where Harry Dunn was killed last year with the American secretary of state Mike Pompeo.
Dunn was knocked off his motorbike outside RAF Croughton and killed after allegedly being hit by Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US intelligence official, who subsequently returned to her home country.
The prime minister, currently in Berlin ahead of an international summit on Libya, said he would address with Mr Pompeo the driving standards of US staff at the Northamptonshire base following the death of the 19-year-old on 27 August.
“We’re certainly raising all those issues about the driving habits of US personnel at the base, and we’re continuing to work for justice for Harry Dunn and for his family,” Mr Johnson told Sky News.
His comments came in the wake of new footage, captured on Friday, which showed a blue BMW having to brake sharply on a road close to RAF Croughton while in the wrong lane.
A police vehicle was also struck by a car on the wrong side of the same road in October.
Northamptonshire chief constable Nick Adderley announced on Friday that he had demanded an urgent meeting with the commander of the base.
”I do not underestimate how much of a concerning incident this was and how much worse it could have been, especially considering the circumstances in which Harry Dunn tragically died,” Mr Adderley said.
“This is compounded by the fact that yesterday, myself and police, fire and crime commissioner (PFCC) Stephen Mold were made aware of another incident in Northampton in which a police vehicle was struck in early October by a vehicle also driving on the wrong side of the road. Thankfully there were no injuries.
“I want to be absolutely clear on the fact that these incidents just cannot keep happening. We know all too well in the case of young Harry just how devastating they can be.”
The Dunn family spokesman, Radd Seiger, said he would be entering into talks with authorities from “both sides of the Atlantic” to ensure this “never happens to a family again”.
Ms Sacoolas was last month charged with causing death by dangerous driving but has refused to fly back to the UK. The US State Department called the UK’s extradition request “highly inappropriate”.
The prime minister previously said that it was right to appeal for extradition but said the chances of the American returning were “very low”.
“That’s not what they do,” Mr Johnson said, sparking criticism from Mr Dunn’s family who later said he had no intention to meet them.