Week of tragedy on Cornwall’s roads as three dead and others fighting for lives
It’s been a tragic week on Cornwall’s roads as a series of awful road accidents have resulted in the deaths of three people with others fighting for their lives and several more injured. A young child was among those who lost their lives in recent days.
Accidents on some of Cornwall’s main roads including the A30[1], A38[2] and A390[3] have made for a tragically busy week for our emergency services who work tirelessly to keep people safe and save lives when tragedy strikes. They have also had to keep roads closed for up to 10 hours for investigations to take place.
But unfortunately despite the best efforts from them and people first on the scene, three have died, including a five-year-old boy, a 38-year-old man and another man in his 50s. Three others remain in hospital in serious or critical condition with at least one fighting for their life. Several more were treated in hospital as a result of four collisions in the space of a week.
A390
Beginning a tragic week of accidents on Cornwall’s roads was the death of a little boy, aged five, on a stretch of the A390[6] near St Austell[7]. Police, ambulance crews and an air ambulance all attended the scene after reports a pedestrian was hit by a car on Thursday, April 25, at around 4.50pm.
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said drivers are encouraged to take alternate routes around the incident while officers and paramedics were at the scene. Initially police said one person had been seriously injured in the collision but later confirmed the pedestrian had sadly died from their injuries at the scene.[8][9]
Five-year-old Dexter was tragically killed in a collision on Penpillick Hill
The A390 was closed in both directions at Penpillick between the Lanescot turn off to the Pontsmill turning while emergency services remained at the scene throughout the night for investigation work. The road reopened early the following morning and police confirmed a child had sadly lost his life.
The boy has since been named as local boy Dexter as tributes came in describing him as a “beautiful little ray of sunshine”. A friend of the family launched a fundraiser to help raise funds to give him the “best send off” and floral tributes and teddies have been left at the scene.[10][11][12]
Floral tributes and teddies have been left at scene of a tragic crash on the A390 which killed little boy Dexter, aged five, last week
Sergeant Phil Brown, of the serious collisions investigation team, said: “Our thoughts are with the family following this tragic incident. They are being supported by specialist officers. We would like to thank those members of public who stopped to help at the scene.
“Officers are investigating the circumstances that led to the collision and we would particularly like to speak to any witnesses who we have not yet spoken to.” Police are investigating the fatal crash. If you witnessed the incident or have any dashcam footage which could help officers, call 101 quoting log 547 of 25/04/24.
A38
Days later a man in his 50s died at the scene[13] of a crash on the A38[14] Glynn Valley and a woman was rushed to hospital in critical condition. Emergency services, including the air ambulance, attended the scene between Bodmin[15] Parkway Train Station and The Halfway House on Sunday, April 28.
Devon and Cornwall Police said the crash, which occurred at around 12.30pm, involved two vehicles and three people were rushed to Treliske Hospital to be treated for their injuries. Meanwhile, one person died at the scene and another was taken to Derriford Hospital and is in a critical condition.
A38 at Glynn Valley where a driver sustained fatal injuries
The A38 remained closed in both directions as police carried out investigation work. Diversion routes were in place[16] and motorists were been urged to avoid the area. The crash involved a silver Honda Jazz hatchback and a red Nissan Navara pick-up truck.
Investigating officers are appealing to the public for information on the crash. They are keen to hear from witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage. Devon and Cornwall Police[17] said: “Officers from Devon and Cornwall Roads Policing Team attended the incident and carried out a detailed investigation of the scene.
“Anyone with any relevant information or dashcam footage which may assist the investigation is asked to contact police via our website or by calling 101 quoting reference log 293 of 28th April 2024.”
Trelyon Avenue, St Ives
Two pedestrians suffered serious injuries after being hit by a grey BMW 1 series in St Ives[18] two days later. Police said one of them is in a life-threatening condition following the crash on Trelyon Avenue on Tuesday, April 30.
Devon and Cornwall Police were called to the scene at around 7.45pm[19]. Both pedestrians – a man and a woman were rushed to hospital where one of them is understood to be fighting for life.
Trelyon Avenue in St Ives
The driver of the car, a 45-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury[20] by driving without due care and attention. He has been released on bail while enquiries are ongoing. Officers from the Roads Policing Team are appealing for any witnesses of the incident to come forward and contact police on 101 or via our website quoting reference, 50240103458.
A30
Last night a man lost his life following a two-car crash on the A30. Devon and Cornwall Police[21] were called to the A30[22] near Launceston[23] at around 10.25pm on Thursday (May 2).
Emergency services, including the air ambulance, rushed to the scene of the collision in Plusha, near to Bodmin[24] Moor Services, where two cars were involved – a Range Rover Evoque and a Honda Civic. Sadly, a 38-year-old man, who was travelling in the Honda died at the scene. His next of kin have been made aware.
Three other people travelling in the vehicle were taken to Derriford Hospital, including one casualty in a serious condition. The two people from the Range Rover were taken to Treliske Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.
Paramedics on the scene of the A30 crash on Thursday night (Image: Max)
Meanwhile, the driver of the Honda, a 45-year-old man, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He remains in police custody this morning (May 3).
Devon[25] and Cornwall[26] Police said: “Officers from Devon and Cornwall Roads Policing Team attended the incident and carried out a detailed investigation of the scene. Some cordons remain in place while emergency services are still in attendance.
“Anyone with any relevant information or dash-cam footage which may assist the investigation is asked to contact police via our website or by calling 101 quoting reference log 864 of 02/05/24.”
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References
- ^ A30 (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ A38 (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ A390 (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ Stupid lorry driver risks lives with A30 U-turn at deadly bypass (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ Fantastic mum found dead in hotel was ‘scared and felt hopeless’ (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ A390 (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ St Austell (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ Devon and Cornwall Police (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ had sadly died from their injuries at the scene. (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ tributes came in (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ funds to give him the “best send off” (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ left at the scene. (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ a man in his 50s died at the scene (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ A38 (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ Bodmin (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ Diversion routes were in place (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ Devon and Cornwall Police (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ St Ives (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ called to the scene at around 7.45pm (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ Devon and Cornwall Police (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ A30 (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ Launceston (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ Bodmin (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ Devon (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ Cornwall (www.cornwalllive.com)
- ^ All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’ (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)
- ^ Click here to join our WhatsApp community (chat.whatsapp.com)