A crowd gathered to honor a teenage police officer who tragically lost her life in a car accident while responding to another crash. PC Jess Turnbull, aged 19, was struck by a vehicle as she and her colleague were attending a two-car collision. The incident occurred when another car collided with their patrol vehicle, causing fatal injuries to PC Turnbull.
During the funeral procession, PC Turnbull’s coffin was escorted to Newcastle Cathedral with a display of horses, pipers, and motorcycle outriders. The coffin, draped in a union flag, was carried into the church by uniformed officers as bagpipes played in the background. The emotional ceremony saw PC Turnbull’s police hat placed on her coffin as it was moved inside the church, with dignitaries and family members in attendance.
The coroner’s report detailed the sequence of events leading to PC Turnbull’s untimely death. Following a road closure implementation at the scene of the collision, she was hit by a motorist colliding with the parked police car, resulting in her injuries. Despite immediate medical attention, PC Turnbull passed away two days later at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
Northumbria Police confirmed that a 73-year-old Mercedes driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released on bail. PC Turnbull had recently joined the police force in September, making her loss even more poignant.
