SOME of the police officers who responded to a fatal police car crash on the M6 were colleagues of the officer who died, it has been confirmed.

Cumbria police confirmed that Police Constable Nick Dumphreys, 47, died at the scene.

The officer – described by the force’s Chief Constable Michelle Skeer as “an absolute professional” – was responding to a 999 call about an alleged assault when his car left the road’s southbound carriageway on the stretch of M6 opposite Hadrian’s Camp at about 2pm on Sunday.

Passing motorists tried to help the officer.

As tributes flooded in from across the world – including from police officers in Ireland and Canada – Mrs Skeer spoke of the tragedy’s profound impact on the force, and of the respect and affection PC Dumphreys inspired.

She said: “Everyone is shocked and saddened – especially on Sunday as some of his colleagues responded [to the the incident]. They’d worked with him.

“Cumbria Constabulary is a family force; everyone knows everyone and he was a very popular and respected officer, who had been in the constabulary for just short of 17 years.

“He’s been described as a larger-than-life character; a big character, with a big heart. He very much put people first and always wanted to do the right thing. He loved his job in roads policing.

“We’re shocked that this has happened. He was responding to an emergency call-out.

“It’s something we do every day, several times a day, and we’ve had a tragedy. Something has happened which has resulted in him losing his life.

“In the force today, people are reeling that this has happened.”

In accordance with police protocol, the investigation will be carried out independently by another police force – in this case officers from Lincolnshire Police. In the short-term, as that investigation gets underway, PC Dumphreys’ colleagues are focused on the human impact of his loss.

Mrs Skeer said: “He was married to a serving officer, Kat, and they have young children, and that is even more devastating in terms of the loss.

“Nick was an extremely popular and respected officer, not least because of his professionalism, integrity and dedication to policing in Cumbria.

“Colleagues who worked closely with him would describe him as a consummate professional who you could always rely on. He always put other people and community first.

“He was such a good officer, and always acted with absolute integrity.”

Originally from South Africa, PC Dumphreys joined Cumbria Police in 2003, working in Penrith, and Brampton, and most recently out of Durranhill Police HQ, where the station’s union flag yesterday flew at half mast as a mark of respect.

In 2017, PC Dumphreys was among several officers commended for leading elderly residents to safety as fire ravaged their flats complex in Penrith. Mrs Skeer added of the tragedy: “It’s an awful reminder to us all of how officers in the front line put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect communities.”