Call for action on Risca accident blackspot (From South Wales Argus)

Call for action on Risca accident blackspot

9:29am Monday 16th November 2009

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LOCAL people are calling for action at a road junction where a fatal crash happened last week, dubbing it an accident blackspot.

Graham Dark, 72, from Pontllanfraith, died after his car crashed with a motorbike just before 6pm on Wednesday on the A467 Risca by-pass.

It happened near the junction with the B4591 Risca Road at Cross Keys, where traffic turning right has to cross heavy, oncoming traffic.

Although the cause of the latest crash is not yet known, Risca West councillor David Rees said residents can be assured that he and other councillors will be working with the police and the council to make sure it is a safer area.

Cross Keys councillor Michael Gray said it was a dangerous road and had seen a number of accidents there over the years.

He said something needs to be done and said this exit should be made into a one-way system.

Off-duty nurse Tegwen Howells, 43, of Cromwell Road, gave vital first-aid to the motorcyclist injured in the accident and agreed it was a “dangerous” junction.

She was driving to Cwmcarn to take her ten-year-old daughter Nia Griffiths to gymnastics when she came across the accident.

Mr Dark’s Volvo was in collision with a a BMW motorbike ridden by a 41-year-old man from Somerset, who was taken to Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital after breaking both his arms.

Mr Dark, of Edgehill, Pontllanfraith, was also taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital where he died from his injuries.

Ms Howells saw the motorcyclist lying on the road and ran over to help.

There were several other people already at the scene who had called for an ambulance.

Ms Howells kept talking to the motorcyclist to try to keep him awake and supported his head.

She had received first aid training in the past and stayed at the scene for about an hour.

She said: “He’s very lucky. He was thrown over the car and broke his wrists by the impact of the car hitting him.”

Ms Howells said she was not surprised an accident had happened there as it was a hard junction to drive out of.

She said: “It’s a terrible junction. It’s not so much the cars going fast there it’s the volume of traffic.”

Ms Howells said she would like to see traffic lights placed near the junction even if they are only switched on at peak times.

She said a roundabout would be better, but did not think there is enough room for this.

WHAT OUR READERS SAID

Argus readers added their thoughts on our website. Spangle from Cross Keys said: “The by-pass is difficult to join at that junction. Either reduce the speed limit to 40mph with a camera or make it a ‘no right turn’ so people have to go to the Wattsville roundabout or up to Cwmcarn roundabout.” A spokesman for Caerphilly council said it is still awaiting the outcome of the investigation into the crash and did not want to pre-empt any of the investigation's findings.

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