Fatal A61 crash: ‘I can see where my dad was killed from my window – it’s torture’

A woman whose elderly father was involved in a fatal collision on the A61 between Harrogate[1] and Killinghall has reiterated her plea for the speed limit to be reduced. Paulina Burton, 62, is the daughter of Lucjan Wilk, who died after being hit by a car[2] on the stretch of road near Knox Mill Lane in November 2023. Mr Wilk, who was aged 90 when he died, got off the bus at the northbound stop towards Killinghall.

He had been to visit his wife at a care home in Harrogate - as he did daily - and was crossing the road to return to the house he shared with his daughter, son-in-law and grandson when he was struck. His inquest was held[3] on March 24, when the coroner concluded the driver who hit Mr Wilk was driving under the 40mph speed limit. Despite this, Paulina feels the speed limit on the road is too high and called on North Yorkshire Council to reduce it.

The Stray Ferret last week reported the northbound bus stop, where Mr Wilk had alighted shortly before his death, has been relocated[4] closer to Grainbeck Lane and a number of streetlights installed. However, the council told us the road "does not fit the criteria for reducing the speed limit to 30mph". The Stray Ferret visited Paulina earlier this week, who became emotional when speaking about her father.

She said she was always attached to her parents, no matter what she was doing. "Whatever I did, I brought them with me everywhere", she says. Paulina still lives in the house she shared with her father and can see the road he was killed on from her kitchen window.

In a tragic twist of irony, Paulina moved to the area from Leeds Road in Harrogate due to concerns over road safety.

She adds:

References

1. ^ Harrogate (thestrayferret.co.uk)
2. ^ died after being hit by a car (thestrayferret.co.uk)
3. ^ His inquest was held (thestrayferret.co.uk)
4. ^ has been relocated (thestrayferret.co.uk)