A woman has been charged with causing the death of a Met Police analyst in a crash during the first national pandemic lockdown.
Janet McMorrow, 61, is accused of driving “without due care and attention” prior to the crash in Worcester Park in which 25-year-old Rachel Brown died.
Ms Brown worked as an intelligence analyst for the Met and was cycling to work on April 7, 2020 when the incident happened, just before 9am on A24 London Road.
She had key worker status and was allowed to travel from her home in Surbiton during the national lockdown.
Paying tribute, Tracy Dancy, the Met’s Head of Analysis and Research, said: “Rachel was a keen member of the analysis team within Met Intelligence. Joining as an Intelligence Analyst in February 2019, Rachel was hugely popular and a cherished friend and colleague.
“Rachel’s positivity, drive and enthusiasm for her role in the MPS, inspired those around her and left a marked impression on anyone who met her. Rachel will be fondly remembered and sorely missed.”
McMorrow, from Wallington in Surrey, was charged with causing death by careless driving and appeared at Croydon magistrates court on May 9.
She entered a not guilty plea as her case was sent to the Old Bailey for trial.
McMorrow is due to appear in the dock again later on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.
At the time of the crash, Scotland Yard said Ms Brown had been “riding her bicycle when she was in collision with two vehicles”, at the A24 junction with Tudor Avenue and Palmer Avenue.
Members of the public rushed to her aid and she received paramedic treatment but died from her injuries at the scene.
The criminal charge against McMorrow was brought after an investigation by the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit.
