Bereaved family call for increased road safety
The family of a teenage driver who died following an accident on the A17 have called on Lincolnshire County Council to increase road safety by changing its gritting policy.
Former Southwell schoolgirl Hollie Sturgeon, 18, of Mulberry Walk, Heckington, was critically injured when the black Ford Fiesta she was driving was involved in a collision near Fulbeck on January 30.
She died two days later in the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield.
The Lincolnshire coroner, Mr Stuart Fisher, recorded a verdict of accidental death at Hollie's inquest yesterday.
After the inquest Hollie's family said, considering the bad weather and low temperatures at the time, the road should have been gritted.
In a joint statement, Hollie's mother, Mrs Alison Smith, step-father Mr Glen Smith, and father Mr Phil Sturgeon, said: "If it had been done we feel the accident could well have been prevented.
"We do want to raise awareness around these issues and we want [Lincolnshire County Council's] highways department to change its policies on the matter to ensure increased road safety."
Mr Richard Wills, executive director (development services) at Lincolnshire County Council, said the council were committed to keeping the county's roads as safe as possible.
He said: "At the time of this tragic incident, the roads had been treated in accordance with the practice operated at that time, as per national recommendations.
"Unfortunately, in such extreme conditions, even salted roads can be treacherous.
"However, we'll continue to review our methods each year to make sure we're doing all we can to prevent any future tragedies and the 2010/11 winter maintenance plan has taken the experience of last winter's extreme conditions into account."
Hollie's family thanked the driver who sat with her until the ambulance came and a doctor, who stopped and tried to offer assistance, along with police and ambulance staff who attended the scene.
Since Hollie died they have been raising money for the neurological unit where staff tried to save her life.
They have been selling charity wrist bands and held fund raising events every month.
The effort will culminate with a ball at Kelham Hall on December 4.
