A motorist killed in Saturday's Heads of the Valleys crash where two people died has been named locally.

The crash, involving two motorcycles and a car, happened near the bus stop on the Gilwern to Brynmawr stretch of the A465 on the outskirts of Clydach at 12.35pm on Saturday.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision, while the other motorcyclist remains in a critical condition at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny.

The driver of a Peugeot 206, was travelling towards Brynmawr when he was involved in the collision with a Yamaha motorcycle and a Brutale motorcycle which were travelling towards Abergavenny.

The driver, named locally as Phillip Bath, was flown by air ambulance to the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff where he died on Sunday. The car's passenger suffered minor injuries.

Friends remembered motorist Mr Bath on a Facebook memorial page.

More than 400 people joined a group called RIP Phillip Bath let the memories live on, to pay their respects.

Mr Bath, 29, who also went by the nickname Kinky, is believed to be from the Coed Cae estate in Nantyglo, and previously attended Nantyglo Comprehensive School.

Friends on a car enthusiast Facebook page called Valleys Cruise said he had a daughter called Ellie.

Some members suggested holding a minute silence at a car cruise event last night, while another suggested organising a cruise in his memory.

Chris Granch James wrote of the tribute site: "Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure.You will always be with us In our hearts forever Pam Steel said: "So sad, another young life taken too early. I bet everyone on here has a story they could tell about you kinky boy that would raise a smile. RIP mukka, give those angels hell and raise up some storm clouds up there."

Emma White wrote " RIP Phillip, You're Gunna Be Missed By Lots Of People Sleep Tight Hun!"

Lisa Marie Lawrence wrote: "RIP bbe, u will be missed, sleep tight xxxx" , Kat Bourne said: "RIP mad 1 u wil b missed by every1 da memories me gor ov u wil stay wiv me 4eva sleep tight bbe."

 

COMMENT

The tragic deaths of two young motorists on the Heads of the Valleys road this weekend is another stark reminder of the need to complete the dual carriageway work as early as possible.

Whatever the circumstances of the accident, we know at least two families' lives will never be the same again after Saturday's accident on the A465.

It is a lethal stretch of road which only last year claimed the lives of Nevill Hall Hospital worker Stephanie Curtis, 35, and her six-year-old daughter Ffion Elizabeth Merrifield.

Between 2000 and 2009 figures show there 281 accidents involving casualties between Abergavenny and Dowlais Top with seven dead and 77 seriously injured.

Funding of £40m has already been secured for the next phase of dualling the A465 between Brynmawr and Tredegar and work should start by April next year.

But the section where this weekend's fatal accident occurred won't be started until 2014 at the earliest.

The work will go through the environmentally sensitive Clydach Gorge which is bound to present its own set of problems when it comes to construction work.

There will undoubtedly be complaints from campaigners about the damage to the area and motorists about the traffic disruption it will cause.

But go ahead it must and without delay in the hope that this weekend's terrible events will not be repeated.