A teenage police officer has tragically died after being struck by a car while responding to a separate collision. PC Jess Turnbull, aged 19, who joined Northumbria Police in September, was described as a 'dedicated and committed officer' by her chief constable.
Incident Details
She was called to a collision on the A189 near Cramblington, Northumberland, at around 11:10 PM on Monday. While out of her marked police car at the scene, she was struck by a black Mercedes CLC that was not involved in the original incident. The officer died in hospital on Wednesday, surrounded by her loved ones, the force confirmed.
Arrest and Investigation
A 73-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was released after being taken to hospital but has been re-arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has since been bailed.
Chief Constable's Tribute
Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said: 'This is an extremely tragic incident where Jess lost her life in the line of duty while serving and protecting our communities. Our thoughts very much continue to be with her family, friends, and all those who have been impacted by this devastating loss. We will continue to support her loved ones in any way we can.
'Policing is a family, and we are mourning the passing of not only a colleague and a friend but also our own family member, and we will continue to support each other during this extremely difficult time. Jess was relatively new in service with so much still to look forward to in her career and life. She was a dedicated and committed officer who always sought to do her best to keep her communities safe.
'Every single day, police officers up and down the country face danger to protect the public. Thankfully, most go home – tragically, on this occasion, Jess did not. I am grateful to all those who wear the uniform with pride to keep us all safe. Jess made the ultimate sacrifice, and that will never be forgotten.'
Tributes and Safety Warning
The Union flag at Northumbria Police’s headquarters in North Tyneside is flying at half-mast to mark PC Turnbull’s death. Police have urged people not to leave floral tributes at the scene of the crash for safety reasons. PC Turnbull is understood to be the first Northumbria Police officer killed on duty since 2006, when PC Joseph Carroll was fatally injured in a collision caused by a prisoner he was transporting pulling the handbrake on his car.
