'Somebody must take responsibility' - widow of PC Nick Dumphreys

The BMW 330 being driven by PC Nick Dumphreys developed catastrophic engine failure in the moments before the accident.

The officer - responding to an emergency report of a serious assault involving knives - was driving south between Junctions 43 and 44 on the afternoon of January 26, 2020, when his car span out of control.

A forensic crash investigator concluded that PC Dumphreys, 47, did nothing to contribute to the accident.

An inquest in Carlisle held this week heard that the BMW veered across the road and overturned as it crashed.

The officer sustained a fatal head injury. He died at the scene, despite 'heroic' efforts by passers-by who pulled him from the burning car and tried to save him.

An investigation revealed a fault with the BMW’s engine led to oil spilling across the engine floor and on to the car’s wheels, causing the crash. 

The officer’s widow Kathryn has now called for all UK police forces to immediately stop their officers from using these vehicles, saying that no other family should have to endure the pain and suffering she has experienced.

“The past two-and-a-half years have been exhausting – and quite insulting,” she said, explaining that she felt 'betrayed' by the way officials had handled the issue of who or what may have been at fault. 

“Nick’s dead. You can’t change that. What happened, happened. The car was faulty.”

She said that there had been failures but what mattered was how the organisations involved – Cumbria Police and BMW - dealt with this.

She continued: “All I want to do is ensure that no one else is killed; to ensure that someone takes responsibility and accountability for the faults that led to his death.”

Kathryn, 41, who is bringing up the couple’s two young children, added: “It shouldn’t have happened. It was easily preventable. Nick should still be here today.

"But the scary thing is that this could happen again.”

'Car was returned to vehicle management unit four times in a month'

The coroner has yet to give his conclusions, and he is yet to decide whether that conclusion should include a formal recommendation about actions which may be judged necessary to prevent similar tragedies.

The inquest evidence heard that the BMW patrol car was returned to the Constabulary's vehicle management unit four times in the month before the tragedy.

The reasons for these visits included an oil change, a power failure at 70mph and warning lights appearing on the dashboard. 

Following the fatal crash, a forensic examination of the BMW’s engine revealed that a displaced crankshaft caused an obstruction of the oil-supply line.

As a result, oil spread across the engine floor and the continuing rotation of the engine’s crankshaft caused combustible parts of the engine to ignite.

Kathryn, who also works for Cumbria Police, has been unable to return to her police constable role since the tragedy.

She said the last few years had at times been 'soul-destroying,' causing her suffering and stress.

She said she needed to speak out for her late husband. “Because we know he didn’t do anything wrong. I need it to never happen again. It’s vital for our colleagues, for our friends, for everyone, so that this doesn’t happen again, so that it doesn’t have fatal consequences again.

“Hearing all the facts in open court has been hard. It is exhausting. But it makes me even more defiant that things have to change. It makes me more determined and I’m very glad that it’s out there.

“We’ve been in this horrible limbo...

“I want to be able to say, hand on heart, that that information is out in the public, that evidence is out in the public domain, and that things can change. Then I can take my next step into the new life that I’ve got now, because that’s what I’ve been forced into.”

'He was just a brilliant human'

Speaking about her late husband, Kathryn added: “Nick was just everything. He was just a brilliant human. He was a brilliant guy. He loved life. He loved his family. His family was his life. But he loved everything that he did.

“Being loved by Nick was without doubt the best thing that ever happened to me. Loving him was the easiest and most natural thing in the world. We understood each other completely and I knew we’d be together forever.

"It just went without saying. Together we could face anything and knowing that he was by my side was all I needed.

“Facing a future without Nick has been terrifying and unbearable at times.

"But he is always in my head, smiling and encouraging me to keep going. We are so fortunate to have our favourite people around us to help us along the way.

“These are the people who play a vital role in keeping his memory alive for our young children, who were so young when he died they may not have their own genuine memories.

“Nick was just a really genuinely honest, decent person and he didn’t deserve any of this.”

'We are determined to do everything in our power to help get to the root cause'

Following the inquest, chief constable Michelle Skeer said: "Cumbria Constabulary recognises the past two-and-a-half years, as well as this past week, have been incredibly difficult for the family of Nick.

"The thoughts of everyone at Cumbria Constabulary remain today with Nick's family, particularly his wife Kat and their children.

"Whilst we understand that the length of time taken to get to this stage has created further strain for the family, this is something beyond the Constabulary's control.

"The Constabulary would like to make clear that it has co-operated fully with the inquest and all requests from the Coroner for information as we are determined to do everything in our power to help get to the root cause of the accident.

"However, it is important to recognise that the inquest has not concluded.

"Conclusions reached by the coroner will not be known for a number of weeks.

"As such, it would not be appropriate at this time for Cumbria Constabulary to speculate on what conclusions the Coroner may reach whilst this process remains on-going."

* For a full report of the inquest summing up, see tomorrow's News & Star and Mail.