PC Jess Turnbull, a 19-year-old Northumbria Police officer who died after being hit by a car, was attempting to close a road following a prior collision, an inquest in Morpeth, Northumberland, heard today. The young officer had been on the force less than a year, having joined in September, following in the footsteps of her father, a former police officer.
Fatal Incident on A189
The incident occurred at 11.11pm on Monday, June 8, on the A189 near Cramlington, Northumberland, Coroner Andrew Hetherington said at the opening of the inquest. PC Turnbull and a colleague had been dispatched to the scene of an earlier crash involving a white Ford Explorer and a silver Land Rover.
At approximately 11.34pm, PC Turnbull had exited the marked police vehicle and was implementing a road closure, standing in the carriageway near the front of her vehicle. Another motorist then collided with the parked police car, “resulting in Jess being hit,” the coroner stated. She suffered “catastrophic injuries” and was treated at the scene by police and paramedics before being taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where she died on Wednesday, June 10.
Investigation and Bail
A post-mortem examination has been carried out, and police investigations into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing, the coroner said. He adjourned the full inquest hearing to January 11, though that date may change. Northumbria Police previously confirmed that a 73-year-old Mercedes driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been bailed.
Tributes from Family
PC Turnbull’s parents, Janice and Andy, who attended the brief hearing, paid tribute to their daughter. In a statement released after her death, they 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.”
