North Yorkshire Police’s Chief Constable Tim Forber has paid tribute to a police officer who was tragically killed in a road collision earlier today
PC Rosie Prior, a response officer based in York – was hit by a heavy goods vehicle on the A19 at Bagby, near Thirsk, after she had pulled over to help other motorists who had been in an earlier, separate collision between a black Ford Focus and a silver Audi car.
PC Prior plus the driver and passenger from a silver Audi were stood on the verge of the road, an approaching heavy goods vehicle (HGV) collided with them.
PC Prior, 45, and the driver of the Audi, Ryan Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, died at the scene.
A teenage boy from the Audi is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
The driver of the HGV, a 65-year-old man from Berwick-upon-Tweed, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has been released under investigation.
Chief Constable Tim Forber said: “It is with profound sadness to confirm the death of PC Rosie Prior on Saturday morning who was tragically killed while helping at the scene of a separate collision on the A19 near Bagby.
“We are doing everything we can to support Rosie’s family, along with the family of a man who was also tragically killed in the incident.
“This is clearly a deeply traumatic and heartbreaking event for everyone involved and we ask that the two families are left alone to grieve in peace. They do not want any media outlets to contact or approach them.
“Rosie’s response team colleagues in York, and from around the force, are being supported at this extremely difficult time.”
