PC Rosie Prior died while assisting at a crash scene on the A19, alongside local man Ryan Welford
Bagby: It’s such a sad day in North Yorkshire. PC Rosie Prior, a dedicated officer, lost her life this morning. She was helping out at a crash when a lorry hit her.
Rosie was attending to a previous accident involving a Ford Focus and an Audi. While she was with the people involved, a heavy goods vehicle came out of nowhere and struck them.
Sadly, she wasn’t the only one who died. Ryan Welford, the driver of the Audi, also lost his life. A teenager in the Audi is in the hospital but is stable, thank goodness.
Rosie’s family is heartbroken. They described her as a loving mum and wife, and they’ll miss her dearly. Chief Constable Tim Forber shared his sorrow, calling it a tragic loss for everyone.
He mentioned how hard this is for the police family too. They’re all feeling the weight of this loss, and support is being offered to her colleagues during this tough time.
The crash happened around 9 am, and the area was cleared by 7:20 pm. It’s a relief that the scene is now safe again, but the impact of this tragedy will linger.
Ryan Welford’s family also shared their grief, saying he was a hardworking and loving man. It’s just heartbreaking for both families involved.
In a twist, the driver of the lorry, a 65-year-old from Berwick-upon-Tweed, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He’s been released but is still under investigation.
Rosie had only joined the North Yorkshire Police as a student officer in May 2022. It’s a reminder of how quickly life can change.
