TRIBUTES have been paid to a “dedicated” police officer from East Yorkshire who died after he was hit by a lorry while helping a stranded female motorist on the M1.

PC Mark Goodlad, 41, paid the ‘’ultimate sacrifice’’ after he was struck on the south-bound carriageway of the M1 between Dewsbury and Crigglestone, West Yorkshire, on Monday.

The traffic officer, a married father-of-one, was airlifted to hospital but died from his injuries a few hours later.

PC Goodlad, who was reported to be from Goole, was a motorway patrol roads policing officer and had been a member of the force for ten years, West Yorkshire Police said.

He had been on duty at 4.15pm on Monday between junctions 40 and 39 when he stopped to help the woman, whose car had broken down on the hard shoulder.

While he was assisting her, a HGV struck him and the marked police car, a spokesman said. The 51-year-old woman, who has not been named, received minor injuries and was also airlifted to hospital.

The 44-year-old driver of the HGV, who has also not been identified, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, Sir Norman Bettison, said: “PC Mark Goodlad was assisting a vulnerable motorist.

“He was doing his job as his colleagues do day in day out. Mark paid the ultimate sacrifice and we are all proud of him and are saddened by his loss.

“Our thoughts and sympathy are with Mark’s family.

“We shall try to be there for them as Mark was there for the public at large.”

West Yorkshire Police Federation chairman Andrew Tempest-Mitchell said: “It is a sad day for West Yorkshire Police, who have lost a dedicated officer who has been killed doing a very dangerous job.

“It was my understanding he was a very experienced road traffic officer.”

Tributes to the officer were posted on the internet within hours of his death.

One tweet said: “How sad, no one should die doing their job.”

Any witnesses should phone West Yorkshire Police’s major collision inquiry team on 01924 293047 or 08456 060606.