In a tragic incident on Saturday morning, PC Rosie Prior, a North Yorkshire Police officer, was killed on the A19 at Bagby, near Thirsk, after stopping to help motorists involved in an earlier collision. The driver of a silver Audi, 41-year-old Ryan Welford from Knaresborough, also lost his life in the same crash.
Initial Collision and Fatal Impact
- First Collision: PC Prior had pulled over to assist following a collision between a black Ford Focus and a silver Audi.
- Fatal Incident: While she stood on the roadside with Mr Welford and a teenage passenger from the Audi, a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) collided with them.
- Casualties:
- PC Prior and Mr Welford were pronounced dead at the scene.
- The Audi’s teenage passenger sustained serious injuries and remains in a stable condition in hospital.
Arrest of HGV Driver
- A 65-year-old man from Berwick-upon-Tweed has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
- He has been released under investigation as the Major Collision Investigation Team continues to examine the circumstances of the crash.
Tributes to the Victims
- PC Prior’s Family: They described her as “a loving mum, wife, daughter, sister, aunty” who will be deeply missed.
- Mr Welford’s Family: They remembered him as “a hardworking and loving father, husband, son and brother.”
Police and Community Response
- Chief Constable Tim Forber, North Yorkshire Police:
“It is with profound sadness to confirm the death of PC Rosie Prior on Saturday morning, who was tragically killed while helping at the scene of a separate collision on the A19 near Bagby. 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.”
- Road Closure and Recovery:
- The A19 reopened around 7.20pm on Saturday, after police recovered the two cars and the HGV involved.
- Debris was cleared by local highways teams to ensure the road was safe for motorists.
Appeal for Witnesses
The Major Collision Investigation Team urgently requests any witnesses to either collision—particularly those with dashcam footage—to come forward. Anyone with relevant information or recordings is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police without delay.
