A 19-year-old police officer who died after being hit by a car while on duty was closing a road following a previous collision, a coroner has said.
Officer Sustained Catastrophic Injuries
Pc Jess Turnbull, of Northumbria Police, suffered “catastrophic injuries” and died later in hospital, the opening of an inquest in Morpeth, Northumberland, heard. The young officer’s parents, Janice and Andy – himself a former police officer – attended the brief hearing held by Coroner Andrew Hetherington.
The coroner outlined the circumstances of her death, saying that Pc Turnbull and a colleague were sent to an earlier two-vehicle collision on the A189 near Cramlington at 11.11pm on Monday June 8.
Road Closure Led to Fatal Collision
Mr Hetherington said Pc Turnbull had got out of the marked police vehicle and was implementing a road closure at around 11.34pm. She was standing in the carriageway near the front of her vehicle when another motorist collided with the parked police car, “resulting in Jess being hit”, the coroner said.
Police and paramedics treated her at the scene and she was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, where she died on Wednesday June 10. Mr Hetherington said a post-mortem examination has been carried out.
Investigations Continuing
Police investigations are continuing into what happened that night, the coroner said. He adjourned the full inquest hearing to January 11 but said that may change. Northumbria Police previously said that a 73-year-old Mercedes driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been bailed.
Tribute from Parents
Pc Turnbull had only joined the force in September. In a tribute released after her death, her parents said: “One of Jess’s proudest achievements was becoming a police officer. She absolutely loved serving her community and was incredibly proud to wear the uniform. Following in the footsteps of her dad, Andy, was something she had always dreamed of doing, and seeing her achieve that ambition filled us both with immense pride. Policing was not just a job to Jess, it was a calling. She cared deeply about helping people and making a difference, and she approached every day with enthusiasm, compassion and professionalism.”
