PC, 19, killed on duty was trying to close road after previous crash, inquest hears

PC, 19, killed on duty was trying to close road after previous crash, inquest hears PC Jess Turnbull, of Northumbria Police had been in the job less than a year, after following her dad into the role , when she was killed while trying to close the road following a crash on the A189 A “caring, compassionate” police officer who died after she was hit by a car aged just 19 was trying to close a road following a previous collision. PC Jess Turnbull, of Northumbria Police, suffered “catastrophic injuries” in the crash. Her parents have paid tribute to Jess, who only joined the force in September following in her dad’s footsteps. An inquest in Morpeth, Northumberland, heard that Pc Turnbull and a colleague had been sent to the site of an earlier collision, involving a white Ford Explorer and a silver Land Rover according to reports at the time. The crash took place at 11.11pm on Monday June 8 on the A189 near Cramlington, Coroner Andrew Hetherington said at the opening of the inquest into the young officer’s death today. Her parents, Janice and Andy – himself a former police officer – attended the brief hearing. Pc Turnbull had got out of the marked police vehicle and was implementing a road closure at around 11.34pm, Mr Hetherington said. She was standing in the carriageway near the front of her vehicle when another motorist collided with the parked police car, “resulting in Jess being hit”, the coroner said. Police and paramedics treated her at the scene and she was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, where she died on Wednesday June 10. Mr Hetherington said a post-mortem examination has been carried out. Police investigations are continuing into what happened that night, the coroner said. He adjourned the full inquest hearing to January 11 but said that may change. Northumbria Police previously said that a 73-year-old Mercedes driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been bailed. Pc Turnbull had only joined the force in September. In a tribute released after her death, her parents 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.”