A young police officer, PC Jess Turnbull, tragically passed away at the age of 19 after being struck by a car while attempting to close a road following a previous accident. PC Turnbull, described as “caring and compassionate,” had joined Northumbria Police in September, following her father’s footsteps in law enforcement.
The incident occurred on the A189 near Cramlington on Monday, June 8, at 11:11 pm. PC Turnbull and a colleague were responding to a collision involving a white Ford Explorer and a silver Land Rover. PC Turnbull had exited her marked police vehicle around 11:34 pm to set up a road closure when another vehicle collided with the parked police car, causing her to be hit.
Despite immediate treatment by police and paramedics at the scene, PC Turnbull succumbed to her injuries on June 10 at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. The coroner, Andrew Hetherington, mentioned that a post-mortem examination had been conducted, and police investigations are ongoing regarding the incident.
At an inquest in Morpeth, Northumberland, PC Turnbull’s parents, Janice and Andy, attended the hearing. The coroner adjourned the full inquest hearing to January 11, noting the possibility of changes. Notably, a 73-year-old Mercedes driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and subsequently released on bail.
In a heartfelt tribute following her passing, PC Turnbull’s parents expressed how proud Jess was to have become a police officer and how deeply she cared about serving her community. They highlighted her passion for her job, her aspiration to follow her father’s path in policing, and her unwavering commitment to helping others with enthusiasm, compassion, and professionalism.
