Tributes to police officer and woman killed in Christmas day crash
The head-on collision happened on the A57 in Sheffield
Last updated 27th Dec 2017
Tributes are being paid to a South Yorkshire police officer killed in a crash in South Yorkshire on Christmas day.
The head-on collision on the A57 near Shirebrook Valley Nature Reserve also left a 61-year-old woman dead and a 63-year-old man seriously ill in hospital.
Emergency services were called to reports of a collision at around 8.15pm on Christmas Day on the A57 .
A marked BMW3 police car was responding to an incident and travelling towards Coisley Hill when it was involved in a collision with a silver Citroen C3, travelling in the opposite direction.
The 46-year-old officer driving the police car was pronounced dead shortly after the collision. The force says he was responding to an immediate incident at the time.
A 61-year-old Sheffield woman who was a passenger in the Citroen was taken to hospital but passed away shortly afterwards.
The driver of the Citroen, a 63-year-old man, was taken to hospital where he currently remains in a serious condition.
Specialist officers are supporting both families.
A mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and its investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision.
“We have lost a friend and a colleague from our police family in this incident." - ACC David Hartley
Assistant Chief Constable David Hartley said:
“On behalf of the force I’d like to offer my sincere condolences to all of those left bereaved by this terrible tragedy, our thoughts, love and support are extended to all those affected.
"We are doing everything we can to support them through this difficult time. I ask that their privacy is respected at this sad time.
“We have lost a friend and a colleague from our police family in this incident. The officer has been with us for 12 years and was a passionate, professional and universally liked officer. His colleagues, and everyone across the force, are devastated by what has happened.
"Our thoughts are with both families who have lost loved ones during this incredibly difficult time."
A Just Giving page has now been set up by the website Police Hour - run by a former Special Constable - to support the families of both victims.
Witnesses to the collision, or who saw either of the vehicles prior to the incident, are asked to call 101 quoting incident number 691 of 25 December 2017.