Families step up safety campaign

People in Eldon, County Durham, started a petition after the accident at crossroads near their homes on Sunday night.

They are calling for action to make the road safer, saying they have lost count of the number of accidents and near misses at the junction – and blaming speeding drivers for most of the problems.

Sam Clark and fiance Gareth Ballan’s unborn baby, Jaydon-Lee, died in the crash in which their five-year-old son Tony-Alan was badly injured.

He and his mother are both still seriously ill. Another casualty, a 24-year-old man from Bishop Auckland who was travelling in a second car, is off the critical list and should soon be well enough to leave hospital.

Two others in the car, a 17-year-old man and a 49- year-old woman, have already been allowed home.

Durham County Council’s records show there have been five minor accidents at the crossroads in the past two years.

But horse owner Yvonne Lax said there had been many more.

“They are always coming through my fence – this is the fourth in three weeks,”

she said.

“It is supposed to be a 30mph limit, but cars come flying down the bank and can’t stop at the bottom.”

Jessy Cleasby, one of a number of Eldon residents who helped rescue the injured on Sunday, said: “If this is what it takes to get something done about the road, then at least some good will come of it.

“It was a horrific accident and we never want to see anything like it again.”

Miss Clark’s father, Alan Clark, from Howden-le- Wear, has visited Eldon to thank people who helped his family. They included Graham Lawton, Darran Anderson, Davey Stokoe, Billy Thompson, Peter Alderson and Kim Cleasby.

Durham Police have renewed an appeal for witnesses to the crash.

A light-coloured Renault Laguna, either silver or gold, came down Eldon bank 20 seconds before the collision took place at 8pm.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the accident investigation unit, on 0191-375-2159.