A senior officer has praised an off-duty officer, who was killed after tragically being hit by a lorry while assisting the sceen of a crash, describing her as someone who “epitomises the very best of British policing“.
Constable Rosie Prior who worked for North Yorkshire Police was at the side of the A19 at Bagby, near Thirsk, on Saturday morning, assisting with a road collision, when she and two others were hit by a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), reports Teesside Live.
PC Prior and Ryan Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, were involved in the initial collision, and sadly died at the scene. A teenage boy, a passenger in Mr Welford’s car, was also struck by the vehicle and is currently in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
The HGV driver, a 65-year-old man from Berwick-upon-Tweed, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has since been released under investigation, according to North Yorkshire Police.
Chief Constable Tim Forber paid tribute to response officer PC Prior, who joined the force over two years ago, citing that “she wanted to help people”.
Speaking outside Fulford Road police station on Sunday, he said: “Yesterday morning, she wasn’t on duty on a shift, she was off duty, and she came across the road traffic collision on the A19 and she stopped to help. She got out and like many police officers up and down the country put herself on duty.
“And it was whilst dealing with that incident that she was tragically killed. Rosie epitomises the very best of British policing, she put the safety of others before her own safety.”
He expressed his thoughts are with the family of Mr Welford, describing it as a “deeply traumatic and heart-breaking event for everyone involved”. PC Prior’s family said she was “a loving mum, wife, daughter, sister, aunty” who will be “deeply missed”.
David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and Jo Coles, deputy mayor of policing, fire and crime, also paid tribute.
In a statement they said: “Our hearts are broken for them and their families. Rosie’s commitment to serving the public, even when off duty, shows she was the very best of us. Our thoughts are also with the entire North Yorkshire Police family, who we know will be deeply mourning their colleague.”
Mr Welford’s family said: “Ryan was a hardworking and loving father, husband, son and brother. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.”
The Police Federation of England and Wales offered its “deepest condolences” to the family and friends of Pc Prior and Mr Welford. The scene of the collision reopened at around 7.20pm on Saturday. Two cars and the lorry have been recovered and debris has been cleared. North Yorkshire Police has urged witnesses to the collisions and motorists with relevant dashcam footage to come forward.
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