Fresh calls have been made by Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, community leaders and concerned residents for the notorious A59 to be made safer after it claimed the life of a 17-year-old boy.

Daniel Robert Walton, who lived in Halifax, was behind the wheel of a white Nissan Vanette, which was involved in a head-on smash with a burgundy Land-Rover Discovery pulling a trailer carrying a yellow Volkswagen Beetle.

Police said the teenager, who had only recently passed his driving test, was delivering catering equipment for his father's family business.

The tragic accident happened at about 3-45 p.m. on Friday, near the Sawley Brow junction on the A59 and the road was closed for some four hours. Traffic was diverted around the A59 with congestion on rural lanes.

The driver of the Land-Rover, Jerome Wilkinson (42), and his passenger David Banks (20), both from Barnoldswick, sustained slight neck injuries and were taken to Airedale General Hospital for a check-up before being discharged several hours later.

Emergency services were called including the North West Air Ambulance, however, Daniel was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash has prompted tougher safety measures on the A59. Earlier this week, Mr Evans said: "This is yet another tragedy and reinforces the message that the county council, police and Department of Transport need to get together and review the safety measures.


Similar fears were raised by resident Mrs Dorothy Gleave, whose 17th Century house on the A59 has been hit by speeding motorists on several occasions.
She said: "Motorists need to slow down when travelling up and down the A59. It's a busy and a notorious stretch of road.

Police investigations are continuing into the accident. Sgt Mick Young, who is leading the investigation, said: "A full investigation is now under way and I would ask anybody who witnessed the collision to contact police.
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Anybody with any information should call police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

* See Thursday's Clitheroe Advertiser and Times for full story