A POLICE constable has appeared before magistrates charged with causing the death of a driver near Stourport.

West Mercia Police PC Jamie Holloway was granted unconditional bail when he appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The 49-year-old officer, from Bewdley, is accused of causing the death of David Shaw by dangerous driving on the A449 from Worcester to Stourport on May 28, 2018.

Kidderminster Shuttle: The A449 was closed near Stourport after the crash in May 2018The A449 was closed near Stourport after the crash in May 2018

PC Holloway was responding to an emergency call when the unmarked police car he was driving was involved in a crash with another car.

The driver of that car, Mr Shaw, suffered multiple injuries.

The Shuttle reported at the time that the driver was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, while the officers involved suffered no injuries and did not require hospital treatment.

Mr Shaw died in hospital on June 11.

The incident was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which carried out an independent investigation into the events that led to the man's death.

Kidderminster Shuttle: West Mercia Police PC Jamie Holloway leaving Kidderminster Magistrates' Court. Photo by Matthew Cooper/PAWest Mercia Police PC Jamie Holloway leaving Kidderminster Magistrates' Court. Photo by Matthew Cooper/PA

The IOPC subsequently referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for a charging decision and PC Holloway was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Details of the charge, including the make and model of a BMW X5 police vehicle, were read to Holloway during a four-minute hearing on Tuesday, but he was not required to enter a plea.

Prosecutor Alex Johnson, appearing via video link, told the hearing the police car was being driven by the defendant in the execution of his duties.

Holloway was bailed to appear at Worcester Crown Court in August.