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| Yorkshire police officer killed at crash scene was ‘the very best of us’ | Yorkshire police officer killed at crash scene was ‘the very best of us’ |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Tributes paid to off-duty PC Rosie Prior, who died along with motorist Ryan Welford after being struck by lorry on A19 | Tributes paid to off-duty PC Rosie Prior, who died along with motorist Ryan Welford after being struck by lorry on A19 |
| An off-duty police officer who was killed after being struck by a lorry while helping at the scene of another crash in North Yorkshire was “the very best of us”, local leaders have said. | An off-duty police officer who was killed after being struck by a lorry while helping at the scene of another crash in North Yorkshire was “the very best of us”, local leaders have said. |
| PC Rosie Prior and a motorist, Ryan Welford, were standing on the verge of the A19 at Bagby, near the village of Thirsk, when they and a third person were struck by a heavy goods vehicle shortly before 9am on Saturday, police said. | |
| Prior and Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, who had been involved in the first collision, both died at the scene. | Prior and Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, who had been involved in the first collision, both died at the scene. |
| A teenage boy who was a passenger in Welford’s car was also struck. The child remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition. | A teenage boy who was a passenger in Welford’s car was also struck. The child remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition. |
| North Yorkshire police said the driver of the HGV, a 65-year-old man from Berwick-upon-Tweed, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He was released under investigation. | North Yorkshire police said the driver of the HGV, a 65-year-old man from Berwick-upon-Tweed, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He was released under investigation. |
| The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said the deaths were a “profound tragedy”. She added: “This brave officer’s passing serves as a reminder of the risks that our dedicated police officers face every single day in the line of duty”. | The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said the deaths were a “profound tragedy”. She added: “This brave officer’s passing serves as a reminder of the risks that our dedicated police officers face every single day in the line of duty”. |
| Tim Forber, the chief constable of North Yorkshire police, said Prior joined the force more than two years ago because “she wanted to help people” and that she “epitomises the very best of British policing”. | Tim Forber, the chief constable of North Yorkshire police, said Prior joined the force more than two years ago because “she wanted to help people” and that she “epitomises the very best of British policing”. |
| In a statement outside Fulford Road police station on Sunday, Forber said his colleague had been off duty when she came across a collision on the A19 and had stopped to help. He said: “She got out and like many police officers up and down the country put herself on duty. | In a statement outside Fulford Road police station on Sunday, Forber said his colleague had been off duty when she came across a collision on the A19 and had stopped to help. He said: “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.” | “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 said his thoughts were with Welford’s family, and that it was a “deeply traumatic and heartbreaking event for everyone involved”. | He said his thoughts were with Welford’s family, and that it was a “deeply traumatic and heartbreaking event for everyone involved”. |
| David Skaith, the mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and Jo Coles, the deputy mayor of policing, fire and crime, said their “hearts are broken” for the families of those killed. | David Skaith, the mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and Jo Coles, the deputy mayor of policing, fire and crime, said their “hearts are broken” for the families of those killed. |
| They said in joint statement: “Rosie’s commitment to serving the public, even when off duty, shows she was the very best of us. | They said in joint statement: “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. We especially want to thank officers and staff who worked at the scene and are supporting those affected by this tragedy. | “Our thoughts are also with the entire North Yorkshire police family, who we know will be deeply mourning their colleague. We especially want to thank officers and staff who worked at the scene and are supporting those affected by this tragedy. |
| “This remains a live investigation, with a member of the public still in a serious condition in hospital. “We echo the chief constable’s request that these families are given privacy to grieve. We will remain in close contact with North Yorkshire police to offer them any and all support.” | “This remains a live investigation, with a member of the public still in a serious condition in hospital. “We echo the chief constable’s request that these families are given privacy to grieve. We will remain in close contact with North Yorkshire police to offer them any and all support.” |
| Her family said the “loving mum, wife, daughter, sister, aunty” would be “deeply missed”. | Her family said the “loving mum, wife, daughter, sister, aunty” would be “deeply missed”. |
| In a statement to North Yorkshire police, 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.” | In a statement to North Yorkshire police, 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 scene of the collision reopened at about 7.20pm on Saturday. Two cars and the lorry were removed and the surrounding roads cleared of debris. Police called for witnesses and motorists with relevant dashcam footage to come forward. | The scene of the collision reopened at about 7.20pm on Saturday. Two cars and the lorry were removed and the surrounding roads cleared of debris. Police called for witnesses and motorists with relevant dashcam footage to come forward. |
| As tributes were paid by police forces across the country, the national body that represents frontline officers issued its “deepest condolences” to the families of Prior and Welford. | As tributes were paid by police forces across the country, the national body that represents frontline officers issued its “deepest condolences” to the families of Prior and Welford. |
| Tiff Lynch, the acting chair of the Police Federation of England & Wales, said: “It is with immense grief and sorrow that the Police Federation of England and Wales offers its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the two persons, including PC Rosie Prior, who were killed in a tragic collision on A19. | Tiff Lynch, the acting chair of the Police Federation of England & Wales, said: “It is with immense grief and sorrow that the Police Federation of England and Wales offers its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the two persons, including PC Rosie Prior, who were killed in a tragic collision on A19. |
| “We are assisting North Yorkshire Police Federation in offering every possible support to PC Prior’s loved ones.” | “We are assisting North Yorkshire Police Federation in offering every possible support to PC Prior’s loved ones.” |