Horror as traffic cop on way to fatal crash is told wife was among victims
A police officer on his way to the scene of a horror crash in which two people died was told by colleagues that his wife was one of the victims.
Emergency services were called early on Tuesday morning to the three-vehicle crash, in which two cars and a van collided on the A75 in Dumfriesshire.
Police confirmed yesterday that Nissan driver Melissa Delaney, 41, and a 35-year-old man driving the van were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Mrs Delaney’s traffic police officer husband was on his way to the incident before finding out his wife was involved, it is understood.
Melissa Delaney was a nurse and the mother of two ‘beautiful girls’
The families of both victims have been informed, Police Scotland said yesterday.
Tributes have poured in for nurse Mrs Delaney, who lived in Dumfries.
She had been involved with the Dumfries Baton Twirlers (DBT) club for almost 15 years, and was an active member of its fundraising committee.
The club sent out its ‘heartfelt condolences’ to her family, saying the mother was ‘one of the best supporters to all our members and she was so proud of her two girls’.
The message continued: ‘Every single athlete, parent and supporter of our club is hurting today. We can’t imagine any competition or trip ever being the same again.’
Club member Abbie Davidson said: ‘At DBT we are one big family, and it’s not until something tragic like this happens you realise how lucky you are to be surrounded by such a strong and supportive group of people.
‘Our family will never be the same without you Mel.
‘You have raised such strong, beautiful and talented girls who will continue to be an absolute credit to you.’
Others on social media have also paid tribute to Mrs Delaney.
One post said she would be ‘truly missed by everyone’ and was a ‘beautiful person inside and out’.
Others described their heartbreak at the death.
Scene of the crash on the A75 in which Melissa Delaney died
Sarah Wilson, who said Mrs Delaney was her childhood neighbour, called the death ‘horrific’. She said: ‘This news has shattered the lives of so many and goes to show how loved she really was. I am left with nothing but happy memories of her and will never forget that neverending smile on her face.’
The identity of the 35-year-old man who died has not been revealed. The 49-year-old driver of the other car was uninjured.
Road Policing Inspector Adnan Alam said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the people who died, and all those involved in the collision.
‘We continue to offer them support as our inquiries continue.’ Emergency services were called at around 6.20am to the horrific crash scene on the A75, near the B721, at Annan.
The crash involved a Peugeot Boxer van, a Nissan Qashqai and a Renault Clio, police said.
Mr Alam said: ‘I’d be keen to speak to anyone who saw what happened or anyone with dashcam footage of the A75 around that time. Please review your footage and bring anything of significance to our attention.’
References
- ^ Dan Barker For The Scottish Daily Mail (www.dailymail.co.uk)