Police have paid tribute to a “passionate and professional” officer who died when the police car he was driving was in a collision with another vehicle, also killing a 61-year-old woman.

Emergency services were called to reports of a collision on the A57 in Sheffield at about 8.15pm on Christmas Day.

South Yorkshire police said the marked BMW 3 series police car was responding to an incident when it collided with a silver Citroën C3 travelling in the opposite direction.

The 46-year-old man driving the police car, who had served with the force for 12 years, was pronounced dead shortly after the crash. The 61-year-old woman, from Sheffield, who was a passenger in the Citroën, was taken to hospital but died a short time later.

A 63-year-old man, who was driving the Citroën, was taken to hospital, where he was in a serious condition on Tuesday. Police said specialist officers were supporting the families of both victims.

South Yorkshire police said investigators were working to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision. The force has referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, as is standard practice after a person dies following contact with police.

Asst Ch Con 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.”

The crime and policing website Police Hour launched a crowdfunding campaign on Boxing Day to raise money for the families of both victims of the crash.



Trevor Sherwood, the website’s editor, said: “We have lost a member of the thin blue line and tragically a member of the public also. A police officer should never have to leave his family on Christmas Day knowing he’ll never return.

“My thoughts are with both families and those officers, paramedics and fire crews who attended his tragic incident. Let’s raise as much as we can in the memory of these fallen victims.”

The crash had been cleared from the busy road by mid-Tuesday. The only evidence of the incident were some marks on the road and police signs by the side of the carriageway appealing for witnesses.

The road is one of the main routes into and out of Sheffield from the south. It is a single carriageway road with a 50mph limit.