Hundreds Attend Funeral of 19-Year-Old Police Officer Jess Turnbull

Hundreds gathered at Newcastle Cathedral for the funeral of 19-year-old PC Jess Turnbull, who died after being struck by a vehicle while on duty in Northumberland.

Funeral Held for PC Jess Turnbull

Police officers gathered along the route to Newcastle Cathedral in honor of 19-year-old PC Jess Turnbull, whose funeral took place following her tragic death.

PC Turnbull died two days after being struck by a vehicle while on duty. She had been dispatched to the scene of a collision on the A189 Spine Road in Cramlington, Northumberland, on 8 June when she was hit by a car unrelated to the original crash. She succumbed to her injuries in hospital on 10 June.

At Newcastle Cathedral on Friday, a police pipe band performed a drum lament followed by the playing of "Amazing Grace" as the funeral procession arrived. The service was attended by approximately 600 mourners.

Police officers from across the United Kingdom lined the procession route, dipping their standards to the ground as PC Turnbull's coffin passed by.

Normally a busy thoroughfare, Mosley Street fell silent as the family of PC Turnbull made their way through. The quiet was interrupted only by a commanding order from a police officer in dress uniform instructing fellow officers lining the route to stand to attention.

The coffin, draped in a Union flag and topped with a police hat, was carried into the cathedral by uniformed officers. Among those present was Northumbria Police Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine, who saluted as the coffin passed.

PC Turnbull's parents followed the coffin into the church, accompanied by numerous family members and dozens of police colleagues.

Background and Incident Details

Jess Turnbull joined Northumbria Police in September last year.

Jess Turnbull, wearing police uniform and smiling. She is standing in front of a dark grey brick building with a wooden entrance to one side. Behind her to the other side is a patch of grass, a tall, thin bush-like tree and some other trees, like you might find in the gardens of an office building. Jess is wearing a rounded police hat and black rimmed glasses and has her dark hair tied back. — Image caption, Jess Turnbull joined Northumbria Police in September last year

A preliminary inquest hearing revealed that PC Turnbull and a colleague were sent to the crash scene to implement a road closure, arriving at 23:26 BST. Approximately eight minutes later, while standing outside their stationary police car, the vehicle was struck by another car, resulting in PC Turnbull's injuries.

Senior Northumberland coroner Andrew Hetherington reported that PC Turnbull received CPR at the scene but died at 11:30 on 10 June at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.