A North Yorkshire police officer has died after she was struck by a lorry while helping at the scene of an earlier road accident.

PC Rosie Prior was standing on the verge of the A19 at Bagby, near Thirsk, with the driver and passenger of one of the cars involved when the lorry collided with them at 08:55 GMT on Saturday morning.

Ms Prior and Ryan Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, who had been involved in the first collision, both died at the scene.

The 65-year-old lorry driver from Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released under investigation.

A teenage boy who was a passenger in Mr Welford’s car is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

“It is with profound sadness to confirm the death of PC Rosie Prior on Saturday morning,” North Yorkshire Chief Constable Tim Forber said.

“This is clearly a deeply traumatic and heart-breaking event for everyone involved.”

Ms Prior joined North Yorkshire Police as a student officer in May 2022.

Her family described her as “a loving mum, wife, daughter, sister, aunty and will be deeply missed”.

Mr Welford’s family said he was a “hard-working and loving father, husband, son and brother. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.”

The Bishop of Kirkstall, the Right Reverend Arun Arora, paid tribute to PC Prior and Mr Welford, saying their friends and family were in his thoughts.

He told BBC Radio York: “They will be in our prayers and our condolences to them at this time.”

The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire and deputy mayor of policing, fire and crime said they were “devastated” by the deaths of PC Prior and Mr Welford.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and Jo Coles, deputy mayor, said in a joint statement: “Our hearts are broken for them and their families.

“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.

“We especially want to thank officers and staff who worked at the scene and are supporting those affected by this tragedy.”

Police have issued an appeal for witnesses and urged motorists with dashcam footage to get in touch.

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