An off-duty police officer has died after she was struck by a lorry whereas serving to on the scene of an earlier crash.
PC Rosie Prior, 45, had stopped to assist Ryan Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, and was standing on the verge of the A19 at Bagby in North Yorkshire, after they had been hit by a lorry at 08:55 GMT on Saturday.
They died on the scene. A teenage boy who was a passenger in Mr Welford’s automotive is in a critical however secure situation in hospital.
A 65-year-old lorry driver from Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, was arrested on suspicion of inflicting loss of life by harmful driving and has been launched underneath investigation.
Paying tribute to PC Prior, North Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Tim Forber stated she “epitomises the perfect of British policing”.
Ms Prior joined the power as a pupil officer in Might 2022.
Her household described her as “a loving mum, spouse, daughter, sister, aunty and shall be deeply missed”.
Mr Welford’s household stated he was a “hard-working and loving father, husband, son and brother”.
“He shall be drastically missed by his household and pals,” they stated.
Ms Prior had joined North Yorkshire Police greater than two years in the past as a result of “she wished to assist individuals,” Mr Forber stated.
“Rosie epitomises the perfect of British policing, she put the protection of others earlier than her personal security,” he stated.
“Yesterday morning, she wasn’t on obligation on a shift, she was off obligation, and he or she got here throughout the highway site visitors collision on the A19 and he or she stopped to assist.
“She acquired out and like many cops up and down the nation put herself on obligation.”
He stated his ideas had been with the household of Mr Welford and that it was a “deeply traumatic and heart-breaking occasion for everybody concerned”.
Residence Secretary, Yvette Cooper, stated the deaths of Ms Prior and Mr Welford had been a “profound tragedy”.
“This courageous officer’s passing serves as a reminder of the dangers that our devoted cops face each single day within the line of obligation,” she stated.
The Bishop of Kirkstall, the Proper Reverend Arun Arora, paid tribute to Ms Prior and Mr Welford, saying their pals and households had been in his ideas.
He advised BBC Radio York: “They are going to be in our prayers and our condolences to them at the moment.”
The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire and deputy mayor of policing, fireplace and crime stated they had been “devastated” by the deaths of Ms Prior and Mr Welford.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and Jo Coles, deputy mayor, stated in a joint assertion: “Our hearts are damaged for them and their households.
“Rosie’s dedication to serving the general public, even when off obligation, exhibits she was the perfect of us.”
Tiff Lynch, Police Federation appearing nationwide chair, stated the organisation was helping North Yorkshire Police Federation in “providing each potential help to PC Prior’s family members”.
“It’s with immense grief and sorrow that the Police Federation of England and Wales gives its deepest condolences to the household, pals and colleagues of the 2 individuals, together with PC Rosie Prior, who had been killed in a tragic collision on A19,” she stated.
Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton Kevin Hollinrake stated he can be “working with the related authorities to know how this tragedy occurred and to discover what steps might be taken to forestall such incidents sooner or later”.
“The security of our roads and those that serve on them is a precedence, and we should do all the pieces potential to forestall additional lack of life.”
North Yorkshire Police issued an enchantment for witnesses and urged motorists with dashcam footage to get in contact.
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