Royal Protection Officer Dies In M25 Crash

Relatives of Sergeant David Jennings pay tribute to a man who was "dependable, hard-working and completed rooted to his family".

Sergeant David Jennings, 48, died in a collision on the M25

A police officer with the Metropolitan Police's Royalty and Specialist Protection Command has been killed in a crash on the M25.

Sergeant David Jennings has now been formally identified as the man who died after being hit by a lorry between junctions 29 and 28 in Essex on 31 March.

Detectives believe the 48-year-old had pulled up on the hard shoulder after his car collided with the motorway's central reservation.

He had got out of his car and been hit by a passing lorry.

The lorry driver had stopped briefly but allegedly drove away from the scene before emergency services arrived.

A 28-year-old man was arrested the next day on suspicion of causing death by careless driving.

He has been bailed until July.

Meanwhile, Sgt Jennings's family released a statement paying tribute to a "devoted father, husband, brother and son who was dependable, hard-working and completed rooted to his family".

"He was committed to his job and was loved and respected by his family and friends.

"He will be deeply missed and the world will be a darker place without him."

Chief Superintendent Bert Moore, of Royalty and Specialist Protection Command, described Sgt Jennings as a "consummate professional who displayed all that is good about the Metropolitan Police".

"He was my staff officer, so I saw daily the commitment he gave to the force," he added.

"His death will be keenly felt by his colleagues and friends and our thoughts are with his family at this time."

:: Detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit are appealing for witnesses to the crash, asking people to call the Roads and Transport Police on 020 8597 4874.