A 19-year-old police officer, PC Jess Turnbull from Northumbria Police, tragically passed away after being struck by a car while attempting to close a road following a previous accident. Jess, who had recently joined the police force in September, sustained severe injuries in the crash.

An inquest held in Morpeth, Northumberland, revealed that PC Turnbull and a fellow officer were dispatched to the scene of an earlier collision involving a white Ford Explorer and a silver Land Rover. The fatal incident occurred at 11:11 pm on Monday, June 8, on the A189 near Cramlington, as confirmed by Coroner Andrew Hetherington during the inquest’s commencement. Jess’s parents, Janice and Andy, who is a former police officer, were present at the brief hearing.

According to Mr. Hetherington, PC Turnbull had exited her marked police vehicle around 11:34 pm to set up a road closure. While she was positioned near the front of her vehicle, another driver collided with the parked police car, leading to Jess being struck.

Despite immediate treatment by police and paramedics at the scene, PC Turnbull succumbed to her injuries on Wednesday, June 10, at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. A post-mortem examination has been conducted as part of the investigation.

The police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident. The full inquest hearing has been adjourned to January 11, with potential adjustments to the schedule. A 73-year-old Mercedes driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released on bail.

In a heartfelt tribute following her untimely death, Jess’s parents expressed her deep passion for serving the community as a police officer. They highlighted her pride in wearing the uniform and fulfilling her dream of following in her father’s footsteps. Policing was more than just a job to Jess; it was a vocation through which she aimed to make a positive impact with empathy and professionalism.