Off-duty policewoman killed by lorry as she helped at scene of crash

An off-duty policewoman has died after she was struck by a lorry as she helped at the scene of a crash.

North Yorkshire Police constable Rosie Prior came across a road collision on the A19 at Bagby, near the town of Thirsk, on Saturday morning and stopped to help. She was standing on the verge when she and two other people were hit by a heavy goods vehicle (HGV).

York-based response officer Pc Prior was one of two people who died at the scene. The other, Ryan Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, was being assisted by the officer after being involved in the first collision. A teenage boy, a passenger in Mr Welford’s car, was also struck by the lorry and is in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

A 65-year-old man from Berwick-upon-Tweed, who was driving the HGV, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released under investigation, according to North Yorkshire Police.

Pc Prior’s family described her as “a loving mum, wife, daughter, sister, aunty” who will be “deeply missed”.

Chief Constable Tim Forber also paid tribute to Pc Prior. Speaking outside Fulford Road police station on Sunday, he said she had been with the force for more than two years and became an officer because “she wanted to help people”.

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 said that his thoughts are with the family of Mr