Inquest opens into deaths of North Yorkshire police officers

PC Rosie Prior, who was off-duty when she stopped her car to help people after a crash between a Ford Focus and an Audi on the A19 at Bagby, near Thirsk, on January 11 this year, was killed, alongside Ryan Welford. PC Rosie Prior (Image: NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE) An inquest, held at Northallerton Coroners Court on Monday (January 27), heard that PC Prior, from York, stood at the side of the road with Mr Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, who was driving the Audi, before they were both hit by a HGV that was travelling in the other direction. Both PC Prior and Mr Welford were killed at the scene.

(Image: NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE) During the hearing in Northallerton, Senior Coroner for North Yorkshire and York, Jon Heath, noted that the provisional cause of death of Mr Welford and PC Prior were blunt head injuries. Following the two deaths on the A19 in Thirsk, a 65-year-old HGV driver, from Berwick-upon-Tweed, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving but has since been released under investigation. PC Prior (Image: NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE) In the weeks that have followed the deaths of PC Prior and Mr Welford, tributes have been paid to both of them.

North Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Tim Forber has previously paid tribute to PC Prior, saying: " A floral tribute on the A19 near Bagby in North Yorkshire, following the death of Police constable Rosie Prior (Image: PA MEDIA) "We're incredibly grateful to the many messages of condolence that we've had in from the community across North Yorkshire. "My thoughts and the thoughts of the force are also with the family of Ryan Welford, who also tragically died in the same incident.

"Rosie had been a police officer in North Yorkshire Police for two and a half years, she was a response officer based here in the city of York. She joined the police because she wanted to help people. Recommended reading:

Get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device for just GBP3 for 3 months.[1] In a separate tribute, PC Prior's family said that she was "a loving mum, wife, daughter, sister, aunty and will be deeply missed".

Meanwhile, the family of Ryan Welford described him as "a hardworking and loving father, husband, son and brother."

"He will be greatly missed by his family and friends," the family statement added.

References

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