Husband of PC Rosie Prior praises support after her death

Speaking ahead of a funeral service for PC Rosie Prior today (Thursday, February 13) at York Minster, Chris Prior thanked 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," he said. Mr Prior added: "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."

PC Rosie Prior (Image: North Yorkshire Police) PC Prior, 45, and Ryan Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, died after being struck by a passing lorry on the A19 near Bagby on the morning of Saturday, January 11. North Yorkshire Police said more than 800 people - including PC Prior's family, friends and colleagues - will attend PC Prior's funeral today at the Minster. Members of the public will not be able to enter the Minster for the service but are welcome to line the route the funeral cortege will take along Duncombe Place, the force said.

The service will be live streamed for the public to watch via York Minster's YouTube channel[1]. It will be followed by a private service at Thirsk crematorium. North Yorkshire Police said PC Prior's family has asked for donations to the Police Children's Charity instead of flowers.

Donations can be made via the Just Giving page: Rosie Prior's Funeral - JustGiving.[2][3] As The Press reported[4], PC Prior was off-duty on January 11 when she stopped to help after a crash which involved a silver Audi and a black Ford Focus on the A19. She and Mr Welford, who was driving the Audi, were standing on the verge of the road when they were hit by the lorry.

A teenage boy who was a passenger in the Audi was left seriously injured after the crash. PC Prior, who had a young family, joined North Yorkshire Police in May 2022 as a student officer before joining the response team in York. PC Rosie Prior (Image: North Yorkshire Police) North Yorkshire Police said she "joined to help people in their hour of need".

Response teams consist of uniformed police officers who respond to 999 calls and other emergencies. Among their duties is searching for and helping missing people including missing children - a part of the job PC Prior "cared deeply about", the force added. She had previously pursued a career in sales, working with EuroDirect (now part of Trans Union) where she met her husband, Chris.

More recently, she ran a coffee van business before applying to North Yorkshire Police.

• Police said the driver of the lorry, a 65-year-old man from Berwick-upon-Tweed, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

  He has been released under investigation pending further inquiries.

References

1. ^ YouTube channel (www.youtube.com)
2. ^ Rosie Prior's Funeral - JustGiving (www.justgiving.com)
3. ^ . (www.justgiving.com)
4. ^ The Press reported (www.yorkpress.co.uk)