South Yorkshire Police have announced that the police officer killed on Christmas Day in a head on collision was PC Dave Fields, a star of TV’s Police Interceptors.
The 45-year-old officer featured in series 4 of the Channel 5 show that followed traffic officers from South Yorkshire’s Road Crime Unit on patrol between 2011-2012.
The force also issued a tweet today with a picture of their Union Jack flag flying at half mast out of respect for the officer and also the other victim of the accident, 61-year-old Lorraine Stephenson.
We’re flying the flag at half-mast to mark the death of PC Dave Fields, a dedicated officer, husband and dad. Our thoughts are also with the family of Lorraine Stephenson. We’ll be back on Twitter tomorrow morning. pic.twitter.com/vq0qepo7mt
— SouthYorkshirePolice (@syptweet) December 27, 2017
Read more: Davina McCall tells fans she knows she’s going to be OK
Lorraine Stephenson was a passenger in a silver Citroen C3, which was involved in the collision with the marked BMW3 series police car driven by PC Fields.
PC Fields and Mrs Stephenson suffered fatal injuries and were both pronounced dead shortly after the collision.
PC Fields’ family released the following statement:
“Dave was a loving husband and dad of two, who was a dedicated officer committed to his job. We are heartbroken by our loss and ask that our privacy please be respected at this devastating time.
Assistant Chief Constable David Hartley added: “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 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.”
Read more: Dancing On Ice star thought she was going to die
A 63-year-old man who was driving the Citroen was also taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition.
Witnesses to the collision, or either of the vehicles prior to the incident, are asked to call 101 quoting incident number 691 of 25 December 2017.