£3m for the mother struck by police car on 999 call

Linda Donaldson, 55, suffered multiple fractures, internal bleeding and a blood clot on the brain when she was hit by the vehicle, which was answering a call about a stolen can of fizzy drink.

Doctors told Mrs Donaldson's family her injuries were so severe she would never regain consciousness and gave her weeks to live after the accident five years ago.

But she survived and has reached an out-of-court settlement with Northumbria Police.

The force, which admitted liability for the crash in Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne, has already paid £1million to cover Mrs Donaldson's private treatment and to build a £350,000 specially-adapted bungalow.

Her husband, John, 56, said last night: "It's been a long, hard fight and I feel a lot of weight has fallen off my shoulders now I know my wife is set. We are making the best of a bad job."

PC Philip Wilkinson, who was driving the Ford Fiesta patrol car, had his lights flashing but his siren switched off when he ploughed into Mrs Donaldson in April 2002.

He was responding to a 999 call about a teenage shoplifter when he overtook a line of traffic waiting at a pedestrian crossing at 40mph in a 30mph zone.

Despite cars blocking his view, he did not slow down and was on the wrong side of the road when Mrs Donaldson walked out in front of him.

The officer, who is now 32, admitted dangerous driving and received a sixmonth suspended prison sentence at Newcastle Crown Court in 2003. He was sacked by Northumbria Police and given a four-year driving ban.

Mr Donaldson, from Heaton, Newcastle, launched legal action against the force earlier this year, saying it will cost £187,000 a year to care for his wife.

His case for damages was due to be heard at the High Court at the end of this year. But after reaching an out-of-court settlement, both parties are expected to agree terms at a rescheduled hearing.

Mr Donaldson, who gave up his job to help care for his wife of 37 years, is now campaigning along with the couple's three children Marie, 35, John, 34, and Kristy, 17, for tighter restrictions on police pursuits.

"The police are letting these kids drive around in high-powered cars," he said. "I still see them now flying around the streets with their lights and sirens on.

"The so- called emergency that happened on the day my wife was hit turned out to be kids stealing pop from a shop. I don't want anyone else to suffer what we've been through."

Mrs Donaldson, who spent months in a coma, was discharged last summer after four years in hospital.

She is confined to a wheelchair and requires 24-hour specialist care.

The out-of-court settlement comes after figures revealed a dramatic rise in the number of people killed and injured during police pursuits.

Statistics for the Independent Police Complaints Commission show 32 pedestrians were killed last year - five times more than a decade ago.

Superintendent Michael Hassen, of Northumbria Police, said: "Police officers go to work each day looking to protect people.

"Tragically in this case we have failed and the consequences have been dreadful. We are truly sorry."