Hero policeman killed in horror crash on way to work as his bike collides with bus
POLICE officers were last night investigating after a fellow officer was killed in a crash between his motorbike and a bus.
PC Mark Murtagh was on his way to work when the smash happened in the Borders on Friday.
The 44-year-old was an award-winning police officer whose family have been left devastated by his death.
Yesterday the family said: ‘Mark was a caring and loving husband, a devoted father and will be greatly missed.’
Based at Galashiels police station in Selkirkshire, PC Murtagh had been travelling to work around 7am when
‘Caring man will be greatly missed’
his motorcycle was involved in a collision with a bus on the A6105 road near Earlston in Berwickshire.
Four years ago PC Murtagh received a Lothian and Borders Police meritorious award for his bravery after he helped detain an armed man who had taken a woman hostage in her home.
The woman managed to escape from the situation, but PC Murtagh and three of his colleagues were confronted by the man who threw a knife and charged at them with broken glass at the property in Broxburn, West Lothian, in May 2010.
PC Murtagh, who lived in the Duns area of Berwickshire and was understood to have young children, was rewarded for his courage in man- aging to deal with the incident without anyone being seriously injured.
Police Scotland divisional commander Chief Superintendent Gillian Imery yesterday said: ‘It is with the deepest regret that I can confirm that Constable Mark Murtagh, who served in the Lothian and Scottish Borders Division, has died following Friday’s accident near Earlston.
‘Our sympathies are with his family, friends and colleagues at this very difficult time.
‘Road policing officers are continuing their investigation.
‘I would urge any members of the public who witnessed the collision, or who believe they can assist with this inquiry, to contact Police Scotland immediately.’
Elsewhere, a woman died yesterday in a two-vehicle crash.
The collision happened on the A92 eastbound road between Lochgelly and the Kirkcaldy West junction around 10.25am, according to Police Scotland.
The road was closed while investigations took place.
In another accident a man died on Friday following a one-vehicle crash in north-east Scotland. The 37-year-old, from Moray, died following the collision on the A941 near Rothes in Banffshire. The crash, which happened around 5pm, involved just one car, Police Scotland said. The road was closed for approximately six hours for a collision investigation to take place. Police are appealing for witnesses.