PC Jess Turnbull, a 19-year-old police officer, has tragically died after sustaining injuries while responding to a collision in Northumberland. She passed away in hospital on June 10, with Northumbria Police's Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine stating that she made the 'ultimate sacrifice' to keep communities safe.
Incident Details
Jess, who became a police officer in September, was allegedly struck by a black Mercedes CLC while attending a collision on the A189 in Cramlington. The incident occurred on Monday night (June 8), and the Mercedes was not involved in the original crash. She was outside a marked police car at the time.
The original collision involved a Land Rover Freelander and a Ford Explorer, reported at around 11:10 pm. The road was closed for over 16 hours following the incident.
Tributes and Investigation
Chief Constable Jardine paid tribute to Jess, describing her as a dedicated and committed officer. 'Jess was relatively new in service, with so much still to look forward to. She was a dedicated officer who always sought to do her best to keep her communities safe,' she said.
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 later discharged. He has now been re-arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and released on bail.
The flag at Northumbria Police headquarters in Wallsend was flown at half-mast. The force has asked that tributes not be left at the scene for safety reasons; flowers can be left at the flagpole outside headquarters.
Police continue to appeal for witnesses. Anyone with information should contact Northumbria Police quoting reference NP-20260608-1198.
