Phillips’s widow, Jen, and daughters Abigail, seven, and Sophie, three, were being comforted by relatives.
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Merseyside Police said in a statement the burglars were driving at high speed and mounted a roadside kerb to avoid a “vehicle trap” set up across the road by two police officers.
Merseyside Police say the red Mitsubishi was stolen during a burglary in Birkenhead around 1am on Monday before being abandoned following the deadly hit-and-run.
PC Phillips was hit by a Mitsubishi pick up truck in Liverpool in the early hours of this morning.
“I don’t think Sophie will understand quite what’s happened, but we were told Abigail just burst into tears”.
Despite efforts to save him he was pronounced dead in hospital a short time later.
Earlier today Merseyside Police Chief Constable Sir Jon Murphy said the 34-year-old “didn’t stand a chance”.
Mr Singleton said: “We are all devastated by the loss of one of our members, Constable 6554 David Phillips”.
“Sadly the driver of this auto has been so reckless that he’s taken the life of a police officer”, he said.
“It’s a dark day when you lose one of our own and it’s a painful reminder of the risks police officers face to keep us all safe”.
“But their wives, their husbands, their loved ones and their families expect them to come home at the end of their watch”.
Dozens of floral tributes now line the grass verge at the edge of Wallasey Docks Link Road North, near to where the married dad-of-two was knocked down by a stolen truck.
Residents said the vehicle was usually parked outside the sales and letting shop and had stickers advertising the business.
The force has launched a murder investigation, with detectives examining CCTV footage in a bid to identify the offenders. The force has thanked the messages of support and condolences it has received from across the country.
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Anyone who has any information that could help the police with their inquiries is asked to contact 0151 777 2263, or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.
