DERBYSHIRE: Cops probe latest blackspot collision

NDET 03-10-12 MC 1
Becky Carline and Margaret Renshaw with their petition about reducing the speed limits on the A632 and adding traffic lights to the Spancarr junction to reduce accidents. — NDET 03-10-12 MC 1 Becky Carline and Margaret Renshaw with their petition about reducing the speed limits on the A632 and adding traffic lights to the Spancarr junction to reduce accidents.

A Vauxhall Vivaro van struck the 55-year-old Ashover man this month as he was walking along the side of the A632 between Span Carr Farm and Span Carr crossroads between Matlock and Chesterfield and failed to stop at the scene.

The serious collision follows the deaths of car passengers Connor Short, of Ashover, and Liam Chapman, of Clay Cross, both aged 16, who died after a collision in September, 2012, between a Peugeot 206 and a Vauxhall Corsa at the junction of Birkin Lane and the A632 Matlock Road, at nearby Kelstedge. Connor’s father David Short also died in a road traffic incident when he had been walking along the same A632 over eight years ago and was involved in a collision with a car.

Police revealed the latest A632 victim suffered extensive injuries to his right side following the collision, on Wednesday, February 13, and he needed to be treated in hospital for two days.

A police spokesman said: “A Vauxhall Vivaro van overtook a line of traffic and collided with the pedestrian causing extensive injuries to his right side. The van didn’t stop but the driver reported the collision later that evening.

“Although the crash happened more than a week ago people may remember travelling on the road that day because the weather was extremely snowy.”

Worried residents have previously organised a petition for Derbyshire County Council’s highways department calling for traffic lights or a roundabout at the A632 Birkin Lane and Matlock Road junction as well as a reduced speed limit along a nearby 40mph A632 stretch at Kelstedge which they want changing to 30mph.

Road safety campaigners and petition organisers Becky Carline and Margaret Renshaw told how a stretch of the A632 Span Carr crossroads is so notorious for speeding motorists it is known as the Flying Mile.

Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership, which is overseen by Derbyshire County Council, has also confirmed there have been 63 injuries recorded along the A632 between Belond Lane and Slack Lane between August 2002 and July 2012 including one fatality involving David Short’s death.

Witnesses are urged to call Pc Pete McVeigh on 101.