Tributes to officer killed in crash

Paul Fitzgerald died in Sheffield Northern General

The family and friends of a police fingerprint officer killed in a road accident have expressed their sadness.

Paul Fitzgerald died after the Citroen AX he was driving collided with a stone wall on Langsett Road, Sheffield.

The 37-year-old, from Hillsborough, had been a civilian fingerprint officer with South Yorkshire Police for more than 20 years.

Doug Wymm, head of the force's fingerprint bureau, said Mr Fitzgerald would be sorely missed.

"If you look at the faces and tearful eyes of Paul's friends and colleagues you'll know he was highly thought."

Witnesses sought

On Thursday, colleagues paid tribute by laying flowers at the scene of the accident at the junction of Langsett Road and Ripley Street.

Mr Fitzgerald's family released a brief statement echoing the words of his colleagues.

It read: "Paul will be deeply missed by his family and friends."

South Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident, which took place at 0515 BST on Thursday.

A post-mortem examination is taking place on Friday.