A police officer responsible for a car accident which killed a Canberra woman last year has made an emotional apology to her family during his sentencing in the ACT Supreme Court.

Key points: Amanda Beehag, 53, died after her car was struck by Lachlan Chancellor's

Amanda Beehag, 53, died after her car was struck by Lachlan Chancellor's The court heard Chancellor was responding to a reported burglary and ran a red light

The court heard Chancellor was responding to a reported burglary and ran a red light He has since resigned as a police officer and pleaded guilty to negligent driving

Lachlan Chancellor, 38, was on his way to the scene of a reported burglary in May 2018 when he ran a red light and collided with a car driven by 53-year-old Amanda Beehag.

Ms Beehag passed away nearly a month later from her injuries.

Chancellor pleaded guilty to negligent driving causing death in March this year.

"I do not even know how to begin to apologise for this," Chancellor told Ms Beehag's family in court today.

He acknowledged the pain it had caused and the ongoing sense of loss.

"It's something that's a lifelong thing," he said.

"And I'm so terribly sorry."

Court hears tape recording from crash scene

A tape of police communications on the night was played to the court today, recording the report of the accident, which occurred at the intersection of Maribyrnong Avenue and Baldwin Drive in Kaleen.

In the tape the then-acting sergeant can be heard reporting that he has been in an accident, adding that an ambulance is urgently needed.

While giving evidence, he emotionally told the court Ms Beehag had a pulse but was not breathing in the immediate aftermath of the crash.

He said he took her from the car and administered CPR, at which point she began breathing again.

"I was holding her hand and rubbing her shoulder and back," he told the court.

"I just kept talking to her, telling her the ambulance was coming and to stay with us."

Police car had three bald tyres at time of crash

Former ACT police officer Lachlan Chancellor pleaded guilty to negligent driving in March. ( Supplied )

The court heard Chancellor had been on his way to a "priority one" call, which is the most urgent.

His lawyer Steve Whybrow told the court he had been the sergeant in an understaffed station and was required to attend call-outs himself.

Mr Whybrow also pointed out there had been problems with poor maintenance on police cars and the car Chancellor was driving had three bald tyres.

"This car, if you were a civilian who owned it, you would have been booked?" he asked Chancellor, who agreed.

Chancellor said he did look at the car before going out but did not realise how bad its condition was, but he agreed it was his responsibility.

"I should not have had that kind of faith in my driving or the vehicle," he said.

Prosecutor Rebecca Christensen told the court it had been a multifaceted failure, where Chancellor had been trying to locate an address as he ran the red light, in circumstances where he was a trained police officer.

"It was a failure to meet community standards," Ms Christensen said.

She said it was accepted that the tragedy had affected him and his life deeply.

"However as a result of his actions, there's a high degree of negligence involved."

Chancellor also told the court he has resigned from his job.

"I never imagined I'd be involved in hurting anyone, let alone being involved in causing someone to pass," he said.

"I just do not think the public would have faith in me coming back."

He will be sentenced on Thursday.

Family asks for loss to not be 'in vain'

Ms Beehag's brother Richard also addressed the court, saying his family has no ill feelings towards Chancellor.

But he urged the court to acknowledge the family's despair, and draw lessons from the accident to ensure it does not happen to anyone else.

"Please do not let my sister's death be in vain," he said.