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Officers investigating the fatal collision on the A19 near Thirsk in which two people died have renewed their appeal for information about the first collision that happened about 10 minutes before.
The initial collision occurred on the southbound carriageway, about one mile from Thirsk at 8.45am on Saturday 11 January 2025 and involved a silver Audi A4 which collided with a black Ford Focus.
PC Rosie Prior then stopped at the scene to help. Shortly afterwards, Rosie, Ryan Welford and a passenger from Ryan’s vehicle were tragically struck at the roadside by a heavy goods vehicle (HGV). Sadly, both Rosie and Ryan were pronounced dead at scene. The passenger remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
The driver of the HGV, a 65-year-old man from Berwick-upon-Tweed, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has been released under investigation.
Officers from our Major Collision Investigation Team continue to appeal to any further witnesses, who have not yet come forward, who saw the first incident, or who have dashcam footage that could help their enquiries, to contact them.
If you can help our appeal, please email [email protected] or call North Yorkshire Police on 101. Please quote reference number 12250006038 when passing information.
DI Jill Cowling from the Major Collision investigation Team said: “Our thoughts remain with the families of Rosie and Ryan and we are doing all we can to support them at this incredibly difficult time.
“A thorough and complex investigation is underway and any information no matter how small is helpful. We are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed any part of this incident including those who may have only seen the initial collision involving the Focus and the Audi.
“If you saw what happened or have any information at all that could assist our enquiries, please get in touch.”
North Yorkshire Police’s Chief Constable Tim Forber has paid tribute to a police officer who was tragically killed in a road collision on Saturday 11 January 2025.
At around 8.55am, PC Rosie Prior - a response officer based in York - was hit by a heavy goods vehicle on the A19 at Bagby, near Thirsk, after she had pulled over to help other motorists who had been in an earlier, separate collision between a black Ford Focus and a silver Audi car.
As PC Prior plus the driver and passenger from a silver Audi were stood on the verge of the road, an approaching heavy goods vehicle (HGV) collided with them.
PC Prior, 45, and the driver of the Audi, Ryan Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, died at the scene.
A teenage boy from the Audi is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
The driver of the HGV, a 65-year-old man from Berwick-upon-Tweed, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has been released under investigation.
Chief Constable Tim Forber said: “It is with profound sadness to confirm the death of PC Rosie Prior on Saturday morning who was tragically killed while helping at the scene of a separate collision on the A19 near Bagby.
“We are doing everything we can to support Rosie’s family, along with the family of a man who was also tragically killed in the incident.
“This is clearly a deeply traumatic and heartbreaking event for everyone involved and we ask that the two families are left alone to grieve in peace. They do not want any media outlets to contact or approach them.
“Rosie’s response team colleagues in York, and from around the force, are being supported at this extremely difficult time.”
PC Prior joined North Yorkshire Police as a student officer in May 2022.
Her family have described PC Prior as “a loving mum, wife, daughter, sister, aunty and will be deeply missed”.
Mr Welford’s family have issued the following statement and photograph: “Ryan was a hardworking and loving father, husband, son and brother. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.”
The scene of the collision reopened at around 7.20pm on Saturday.
Two cars and the HGV have been recovered. Highways have cleared debris from the road to ensure it is safe to drive on.
The Major Collision Investigation Team is urging witnesses to either of the two collisions, and motorists with relevant dashcam footage, to get in touch without delay.
If you can help, please email [email protected] quoting reference number 12250006038.
MEDIA OUTLETS ARE URGED NOT TO APPROACH THE FAMILIES OF THE DECEASED.
On Sunday 12 January, Chief Constable Tim Forber spoke to the media at Fulford Road Police Station in York. Here's a video of his words that we have shared on social media, as we continue to pay our respects to PC Rosie Prior and Ryan Welford.
Hello, my name is Tim Forber and I'm the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police.
The death of PC Rosie Prior has devastated her loved ones and her family.
It's devastated her colleagues here at North Yorkshire Police and we're extremely grateful to the many messages of condolence that have come in from the community across North Yorkshire.
Also in my thoughts are the family of Ryan Welford, who also tragically died in the incident yesterday morning.
Rosie had been a police officer for two and a half years.
She was a response officer based here in the city of York.
She joined the police because she wanted to help people.
Yesterday morning she wasn't on duty on a shift, she was off duty, and she came across a road traffic collision on the A19 just south of Thirsk, and she stopped and got out to help.
And it was whilst doing that that she was tragically killed.
Rosie epitomises the very best of British policing.
She put the safety of others before her own safety.
Helping others was part of her DNA.
We're doing everything that we can to support Rosie's family, as well as Ryan's family, and to support her colleagues here in North Yorkshire Police who are understandably absolutely devastated by her death.
We'll continue to wrap around the organisation.
We'll also make sure that Rosie's memory is never forgotten.
As I say she epitomised the very best of British policing and the values of North Yorkshire Police.
I'd just like to make an appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the incident yesterday morning.
It took place at about five to nine on the A19, just in the Bagby area about a mile south of Thirsk.
If you were there, if you have dashcam footage, please get in contact with us because it may be vital information for our investigation into what happened.
Thank you again for all your messages of condolence.