Teenage girl still in intensive care after accident on A60: MP joins calls for more road safety measures

An MP has pledged to support residents campaigning for more safety measures at an accident blackspot where two pupils were badly injured in car accidents just three weeks apart.
Portland College pupil Lizzy Heeley who was badly injured after she was struck by a car on the A60.Portland College pupil Lizzy Heeley who was badly injured after she was struck by a car on the A60.
Portland College pupil Lizzy Heeley who was badly injured after she was struck by a car on the A60.

Dozens of residents have met with Ashfield MP Gloria De Piero and Nottinghamshire County Councillor Steve Carroll to raise their concerns about the serious safety issues affecting the A60 by Harlow Wood.

They want the speed limit cut from 50mph and see other traffic calming measures put in place.

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One accident victim Lizzy Heeley is still recovering in intensive care after she was hit by a car doing 40mph.

Marianne Heeley told how her 18-year-old daughter was hit by a car as she crossed the road in September 28 after leaving Portland College at around 4pm

“The police told me she came out of Portland and was seen walking to the bus across the road.

“She didn’t cross exactly at the Zebra crossing went diagonally across where she was hit by a car doing 40mph.

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Lizzy who studies animal care at the specialist college suffered severe head in juries in the crash.

The force of the impact caused bleeding in her brain and there were contusions in one of her lungs

Lizzy broke her leg and has a metal rod from her knee to her ankle holding the broken bones together.

Mrianne added: “The school called me and said there had been an accident and her special education teacher Mark let me know what was happening from the roadside.

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“When they told me they had taken her to Queen’s Medical Centre my heart stopped.

“Her brain was so swollen she was in a coma for 11 days and they made four attempts to wake her up. We didn’t know if she would pull through.

“I am just grateful she is alive

“She has a very long road to go for recovery.”

Lizzy was transferred to King’s Mill Hospital where she is still in intensive care.

Her mum added: “She still has a tracheotomy - hopefully by the end of the week we will be able to talk to her about what she remembers of the incident. She is now awake and is trying to mouth things.

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Marianne said: “We just want the Lizzy we know back. She is a bright and bubbly girl and is one hell of a fighter.”

Marianne, 39 of Ravensdale Road, Mansfield added: “I don’t want to blame anyone.

“I know they have the right to drive at 50 mph on that road. All I am asking for is for the speed limit to be kept at 20mph during school hours.

“The difference between being hit at 50mph and 20 mph is life and death.

It doesn’t have to be seven days a week.

“We are also calling for simple maintenance.

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“I don’t want another family go through this it is heartbreaking to see her with braces.

At a meeting at Portland College Marianne joined Simon and Janet Cappin whose son Ben 11 is recovering from his injuries after he was hit by a car on the road three weeks before Lizzy.

The meeting, was attended by more than 40 residents who have daily struggles using the route - both as pedestrians and motorists.

Gloria De Piero said: said: “The sheer number of people who attended this meeting shows how strongly people feel about this issue.

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“I have heard far too many stories from people who have to take their lives into their own hands every time they use this road because of the speed that vehicles travel at.

“I will be backing the residents in their campaign to get the speed limit reduced and other vital safety measures installed and will be doing all I can to facilitate this.”

Among the problems that residents raised with the road were the lack of a pedestrian crossing near the Harlow Wood housing development; the lack of a pavement for pedestrians along much of the road; difficulties for vehicles turning right into and out of side streets, driveways, Portland College and Fountaindale School; the speed vehicles travel at making it dangerous for pedestrians to cross the road, even using the existing pedestrian crossing.

The MP has already raised these concerns with Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottinghamshire Police and a bus company after residents initially contacted her.

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The council has now agreed to carry out a comprehensive safety review of this stretch of the A60 and Coun Carroll will be meeting with highways chiefs and ensuring that residents’ concerns are heard before any decisions are made.

Coun Carroll said: “I was very pleased with the turnout at the meeting but quite distressed to hear people talk about their experiences of this road.

“The county council is carrying out a review and it is important that residents are involved in this process.

“I will give 100 per cent in the fight to make sure that this road is made safer for all.”

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