Police officer, 19, dies on duty while attending another collision

A man has been arrested

PC Jess Turnbull died in hospital yesterday (10 June) after being struck by a car while on duty and attending another collision between two cars.

She had only joined Northumbria Police in September.

PC Jess Turnbull. Image: Northumbria Police

The officer had been called to a collision on the A189 near Cramlington, Northumberland at around 23:10 on Monday (8 June).

Sky reported that the occupants of one of the cars fled the scene after the incident.

The force said that while she was out of her marked police vehicle at the scene, PC Turnbull was struck by a black Mercedes CLC that was unconnected to the original incident.

A 73-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, Northumbria police said.

The man was taken to hospital before being re-arrested upon his release.

He has been bailed.

The officer's chief constable Vanessa Jardine paid tribute to the 19-year-old at the force's headquarters in North Tyneside.

She said: "This is an extremely tragic incident where Jess lost her life in the line of duty while serving and protecting our communities."

"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."

Police have appealed for witnesses and urged those wanting to pay tribute not to leave flowers at the scene of the crash for safety reasons.

Members of the public who wish to pay tribute with flowers have been asked to do so at the force headquarters in Middle Engine Lane, Wallsend.

The family of the officer has asked for privacy.