Police watchdog rules officers involved in fatal Birmingham crash acted appropriately
40-year-old Roger Bagnall died after being struck by a marked police car in March last year
The police watchdog has ruled two officers acted appropriately before being involved in a fatal road collision in Birmingham last year.
A five-day hearing at Birmingham Coroner’s Court, which concluded today (Friday 23rd January 2025), reviewed the circumstances surrounding the death of 40-year-old Roger Bagnall on 19th March 2025.
Mr Bagnall, a father of two, died in Acocks Green after being struck by a marked police vehicle responding to a 999 call about a man reportedly carrying a knife.
The incident
According to an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation, the collision occurred around 7pm on Yardley Road. Emergency lights and sirens were activated as the officers drove towards the call at speeds between 55 and 61mph.
Evidence showed Mr Bagnall stepped into the road as the vehicle approached. The driver attempted to brake and swerve, reducing their speed to between 25 and 35mph, but Mr Bagnall ran into the path of the car and was struck.
Police officers immediately requested an ambulance and began CPR at the scene. However, Mr Bagnall was pronounced dead by paramedics.
The investigation
The IOPC launched its investigation the same evening and concluded in September.
IOPC Director Derrick Campbell said: “Our sympathies are with Mr Bagnall’s family and friends, and to all those affected by his death and the tragic nature of it.
“In line with our role we independently looked at the circumstances of the collision, along with the actions and decisions of the officers involved. We found that they had acted appropriately and in line with police policies and procedures. There was no indication they had behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or committed a criminal offence.”
Throughout the investigation, house-to-house enquiries were carried out alongside reviews of police body camera footage, dashcam data, telematics from the police car, and CCTV from the area. Statements were also obtained from the officers involved, and a public appeal for footage of the incident was made.
The findings were submitted to the coroner to assist with the inquest, which concluded Mr Bagnall died as a result of a road traffic collision.