Tributes Pour In for North Yorkshire Police Officer and Civilian Killed in Lorry Accident
Tragic incident on A19 claims lives of dedicated policewoman and father; lorry driver arrested for dangerous driving.
In a tragic incident on Saturday morning, North Yorkshire Police Constable Rosie Prior and a civilian, Ryan Welford, lost their lives after being struck by a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) on the A19 near Bagby, close to the town of Thirsk.
PC Prior was attending to a separate road collision when the accident occurred just before 9 am.
PC Rosie Prior was assisting at the crash scene on the grassy verge of the A19 when she, along with Mr. Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, and a teenage boy who was a passenger in Mr. Welford's vehicle, were hit by the lorry.
Unfortunately, both Prior and Welford succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
The teenage boy remains hospitalized in a serious but stable condition.
The driver of the HGV, a 65-year-old man from Berwick-upon-Tweed, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, an arrest that highlights the severity and complexity of the ongoing investigation by local authorities.
PC Prior's family paid tribute to her, describing her as "a loving mum, wife, daughter, sister, and aunty" who will be "deeply missed".
Her tragic demise prompted heartfelt tributes, reflecting her commitment to public service.
Chief Constable Tim Forber expressed profound sorrow, emphasizing the support being extended to the bereaved families.
"We are doing everything we can to support Rosie's family, along with the family of a man who was also tragically killed in the incident.
This is clearly a deeply traumatic and heart-breaking event for everyone involved," he said.
The incident has also reverberated through local government, with statements issued by David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and Jo Coles, deputy mayor of policing, fire, and crime.
"Rosie's commitment to serving the public, even when off duty, shows she was the very best of us.
Our thoughts are also with the entire North Yorkshire Police family, who we know will be deeply mourning their colleague," their joint statement reads.
PC Prior joined the North Yorkshire Police as a student officer in May 2022, marking a promising yet tragically short-lived career.
Simultaneously, the family of Ryan Welford paid tribute to him, acknowledging his roles as a "hardworking and loving father, husband, son, and brother," adding that he will be "greatly missed by his family and friends."
The Police Federation of England & Wales extended its "deepest condolences" to the families of PC Prior and Mr. Welford, further underscoring the shared grief within and beyond the police community.
Following the incident, the collision site reopened at approximately 7:20 pm on Saturday after two involved vehicles and the lorry were recovered and debris cleared.
North Yorkshire Police continues to urge witnesses and those with dashcam footage of the incident to assist the ongoing Major Collision Investigation team in their efforts to piece together the events leading up to this tragedy.
PC Prior was attending to a separate road collision when the accident occurred just before 9 am.
PC Rosie Prior was assisting at the crash scene on the grassy verge of the A19 when she, along with Mr. Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, and a teenage boy who was a passenger in Mr. Welford's vehicle, were hit by the lorry.
Unfortunately, both Prior and Welford succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
The teenage boy remains hospitalized in a serious but stable condition.
The driver of the HGV, a 65-year-old man from Berwick-upon-Tweed, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, an arrest that highlights the severity and complexity of the ongoing investigation by local authorities.
PC Prior's family paid tribute to her, describing her as "a loving mum, wife, daughter, sister, and aunty" who will be "deeply missed".
Her tragic demise prompted heartfelt tributes, reflecting her commitment to public service.
Chief Constable Tim Forber expressed profound sorrow, emphasizing the support being extended to the bereaved families.
"We are doing everything we can to support Rosie's family, along with the family of a man who was also tragically killed in the incident.
This is clearly a deeply traumatic and heart-breaking event for everyone involved," he said.
The incident has also reverberated through local government, with statements issued by David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and Jo Coles, deputy mayor of policing, fire, and crime.
"Rosie's commitment to serving the public, even when off duty, shows she was the very best of us.
Our thoughts are also with the entire North Yorkshire Police family, who we know will be deeply mourning their colleague," their joint statement reads.
PC Prior joined the North Yorkshire Police as a student officer in May 2022, marking a promising yet tragically short-lived career.
Simultaneously, the family of Ryan Welford paid tribute to him, acknowledging his roles as a "hardworking and loving father, husband, son, and brother," adding that he will be "greatly missed by his family and friends."
The Police Federation of England & Wales extended its "deepest condolences" to the families of PC Prior and Mr. Welford, further underscoring the shared grief within and beyond the police community.
Following the incident, the collision site reopened at approximately 7:20 pm on Saturday after two involved vehicles and the lorry were recovered and debris cleared.
North Yorkshire Police continues to urge witnesses and those with dashcam footage of the incident to assist the ongoing Major Collision Investigation team in their efforts to piece together the events leading up to this tragedy.
