Teenage police officer was closing road when she was killed, inquest hears

A teenage police officer was fatally hit by a car as she closed a road, an inquest has heard. 

PC Jess Turnbull, 19, suffered "catastrophic injuries" after being killed in a collision on the A189 near Cramlington, Northumberland, on 8 June.

The young officer, who only joined the force last September, had been attending a previous collision.

PC Turnbull's parents, Janice and Andy - himself a former police officer - attended the brief hearing in Morpeth on Tuesday.

PC Turnbull was standing near the front of her marked police car when the 73-year-old Mercedes driver struck it, "resulting in Jess being hit", Coroner Andrew Hetherington said.

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Mr Hetherington said PC Turnbull had got out of the marked police vehicle and was implementing a road closure at around 11.34pm.

Police and paramedics treated her at the scene and she was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, where she died two days later.

Mr Hetherington said a post-mortem examination had been carried out, and adjourned the full inquest hearing until January next year.

The Mercedes driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been bailed.

In a tribute released after her death, her parents said: "One of Jess's proudest achievements was becoming a police officer.

"She absolutely loved serving her community and was incredibly proud to wear the uniform.

"Following in the footsteps of her dad, Andy, was something she had always dreamed of doing, and seeing her achieve that ambition filled us both with immense pride.

"Policing was not just a job to Jess, it was a calling.

"She cared deeply about helping people and making a difference, and she approached every day with enthusiasm, compassion and professionalism."

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