Met officers charged after pregnant woman and her unborn baby killed in crash

Two Met Police officers have been charged after a heavily pregnant woman and her unborn baby were killed in a crash with an unmarked car in south-east London.

Mariam Ahmed, 38, was only weeks from giving birth when she died following the collision on Eltham Road on October 17, 2024.

The police car was doing 80mph on the 40mph road and was overtaking traffic in pursuit of a rider on a stolen motorcycle, an inquest last year was told. 

PC Chris Johnson, 56, the driver of the police vehicle involved in the collision, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Former PC Danny Tomkins, 35, the driver of a second unmarked vehicle, has been charged with dangerous driving, in relation to the standard of his driving.

They are both due to appear at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 28.

Acting Detective Chief Superintendent James Derham, who leads policing in Greenwich, said: ‘Our thoughts remain with the woman’s family and friends, who continue to grieve the loss of her and her unborn child.

‘This was a truly terrible and heartbreaking incident.’

The charges follow an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which began a probe following a mandatory referral from the Met.

The IOPC referred a file to the CPS following the conclusion of the investigation in October 2025.

Malcolm McHaffie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime division, said: ‘Following a thorough review of the evidence in this case, we have authorised criminal charges against one current and one former police officer.

‘Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.’

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