Hundreds to attend funeral for off-duty police officer killed while trying to help

Hundreds of people are expected to attend a funeral service for an off-duty police officer who was killed while trying to help. Representatives of police forces across the UK will be gathering in York on Thursday to honour PC Rosie Prior, who died aged 45 when she and two others were struck by a lorry last month.[1] PC Prior, who was also a mother, had come across a road collision on the A19 at Bagby, near the town of Thirsk, North Yorkshire, and was standing on the verge when she was hit.

The off-duty officer and Ryan Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, who had been involved in the first collision, died at the scene. A teenage boy, who was a passenger in Mr Welford's car, was seriously injured. A full ceremonial police funeral for the North Yorkshire officer is expected to see about 800 people attend the service at York Minster on Thursday.

The cortege will be led through the streets to the historic cathedral by a police piper and four police horses, with the approach to the Minster lined by North Yorkshire officers and flag bearers from every force.

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There will be a guard of honour outside the Minster. Pc Prior's husband Chris said in a statement: "On behalf of my family and I, I would firstly like to thank North Yorkshire Police and the (Police) Federation for their amazing support during this horrific time. "I would like to specifically mention our Family Support Officers who have been fantastic.

"The amount of support we have received from family, friends, neighbours, work colleagues and Rosie's work colleagues proves that even in the darkest of times, the world does have amazing people in it. "I would ask that the media allows the boys and I time to rebuild our lives, noting we will have a huge Rosie void in it, and as such we will not be making any further comments." Speaking shortly after her death, North Yorkshire Police's Chief Constable, Tim Forber, said "helping others was part of her DNA".

He added: "She epitomised the very best of British policing and the values of North Yorkshire Police."

PC Prior, who was born in Leeds, had been with the police force since 2022.

The driver of the lorry, a 65-year-old man from Berwick-upon-Tweed, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and later released under investigation, North Yorkshire Police said.

References

1. ^ were struck by a lorry last month. (news.sky.com)
2. ^ Economy shows surprise growth at end of 2024 (news.sky.com)
3. ^ Audrey Hepburn will get blue plaque in London (news.sky.com)