Officer charged over fatal accident

A POLICE officer has been charged in connection with an Edinburgh accident in which a pedestrian died.

Martin Douglas was crossing Union Place, near the Playhouse Theatre, at about 4:20am on New Year's Day when he was struck by a black Toyota.

Lothian and Borders Police have said an off-duty officer was behind the wheel of the car that hit the 41-year-old.

The force said a 25-year-old police officer had been charged in relation to an alleged road traffic offence on 1 January.

The collision happened hours after the Hogmanay street party took place in the capital.

Mr Douglas, from Hay Gardens in the city, was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he died a short time later.

A police spokesman said the officer had not been suspended from duty.