Nick Dumphreys: M6 crash police car had known engine fault

PC Nick Dumphreys was "extremely popular and respected", Cumbria Police said

A police officer's patrol car that veered off a motorway, overturned and caught fire had a known engine fault, an inquest has heard.

PC Nick Dumphreys, 47, died while responding to an emergency call on the M6 near Carlisle on 26 January 2020.

An inquest heard his BMW patrol car had a fault which had previously affected other police vehicles.

His widow said he was a "brilliant human" but she was "dumbfounded" he was put in such a "dangerous" situation.

Carlisle coroner Robert Cohen said PC Dumphreys could not have done anything to prevent the fatal crash.

The section of motorway was closed after the crash

He told the inquest it was clear the officer was "an adored family man, who is much missed by his family, friends and colleagues".

PC Dumphreys, who had worked for Cumbria Police since 2003, had been driving a BMW with a type of engine known as the N57.

The inquest heard there had been similar incidents involving police cars with the same type of engine in the years prior to PC Dumphreys' death.

It found a broken part in the engine had cut the supply of oil and that some of that oil then ignited, causing a fire.

Mr Cohen recorded a verdict of accidental death.

'Terrifying'

He also suggested there should be a national policy to prevent cars condemned by the police being later sold on the open market.

PC Dumphreys' wife Kathryn, who also works for Cumbria Police but has been unable to return since the tragedy, said the accident "shouldn't have happened".

She said: "Five to seven times a month these cars were failing… more than 60 times a year… for four years. Why were police officers never told this? It was incredibly dangerous for officers. It was incredibly dangerous for the public.

"It is staggering. I am dumbfounded and so utterly upset that officers were being sent out driving these historically failed vehicles trying to catch criminals with what was dangerous work equipment. It is utterly outrageous."

She said that facing a future without her husband had been "terrifying".

"He is always in my head, smiling and encouraging me to keep going," she said.

She is raising the couple's two young children and said his memory would be kept alive for them.