A teenage rookie police officer has tragically died in hospital after sustaining catastrophic injuries when struck by a car while responding to a separate crash. Pc Jess Turnbull, who had only joined Northumbria Police in September, was called to a collision on the A189 near Cramlington, Northumberland, at around 11.10pm on Monday.
Northumbria Police reported that while she was outside her marked police vehicle at the scene, Pc Turnbull was hit by a black Mercedes CLC that was unrelated to the original incident. Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine confirmed that Pc Turnbull passed away in hospital on Wednesday, surrounded by her loved ones. She served on the response policing team in Northumberland.
Ms Jardine paid tribute to the young officer at the force’s headquarters in North Tyneside, where the Union flag was flying at half-mast. She 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.”
She added: “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.”
Ms Jardine emphasized: “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.”
Northumbria Police stated that a 73-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was taken to hospital but has since been discharged and was re-arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. The pensioner has been bailed.
Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward. For safety reasons, they have urged the public not to leave floral tributes at the scene of the crash. Those wishing to pay tribute with flowers are asked to do so at the force headquarters in Middle Engine Lane, Wallsend.
Pc Turnbull was responding to a collision involving two cars, with the occupants of one vehicle fleeing the scene. It is understood she is the first Northumbria Police officer to be 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.
