The mother of a young father-to-be who was killed in a road accident last month is calling for layout changes to the road he died on in a bid to prevent further deaths. She talks to NATALIE CROCKETT.

RACHEL HOARE’S life was torn apart on May 19.

Her son Luke Grace, 20, of Undy, died after the Yamaha DT125 motorbike he was riding was involved in a collision with a dark coloured Ford Fiesta on the McDonald’s roundabout in Pontypool.

His girlfriend Briony Emblen, 17, whom he had set up home with in Undy, is expecting his baby in October.

Mrs Hoare, of Oakdale, believes her only son’s death could have been prevented if better road markings and signs were in place.

She says the busy roundabout, which links the A472 and the A4042 at Pontypool, is not clearly marked and is confusing for drivers.

Mrs Hoare, 43, would like to see traffic lights introduced at peak times, as well as lane markings to stop people cutting across other drivers’ paths.

She wants trees currently obstructing road signs cut back and would like to see a designated left turn only lane towards Abergavenny introduced – like the one on the same roundabout which leads from the direction of Cwmbran to Pontypool.

The mother-of-one, who lives with her partner Eamon Keating, 42, said: “People don’t know which lane they are supposed to be in and that’s where there is room for tragedy.

“We just don’t want it to happen to anybody else. It’s a terrible waste of life. Something has got to be done.”

Mr Grace had been travelling from his mum’s Oakdale home to Monmouth via Pontypool when the accident happened around 6.05pm.

It is believed he overtook a car travelling in the same lefthand lane as him from Pontypool towards Abergavenny, believing it was headed in the same direction as him, when the two collided.

He was thrown from his bike across the bonnet of the car and into a nearby lamppost.

Emergency services were called and paramedics tried to resuscitate him at the scene and in the ambulance on the way to Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His mother said: “We were devastated. It was just disbelief, we thought he might have broken bones or head injuries, we were numb.”

Mrs Hoare, who has been a heavy goods driver for 20 years, says car and bike fanatic Mr Grace was well-educated in road safety.

The former Usk Primary and Monmouth Comprehensive School pupil was described by his family as a fun-loving, strong and cheeky character who was full of life.

He was adored by friends and family and was looking forward to starting a new job as a railway track engineer two days after his accident.

Mrs Hoare added: “He had a lot to look forward to. Life was just starting to get good for him.

“He was only 20 but said all he wanted was to settle down with his girlfriend, have a steady job and bring up their baby.

“It’s a double tragedy that the baby won’t get to meet Luke – all the more reason to stop it happening again. We are very lucky that at least we will have a part of Luke left.”

Proposals due later this year

A WELSH Government spokesman said proposals for improvements to the roundabout, right and below right, were being developed, due for implementation later this year, which would include lane markings, changes to direction signs and vegetation clearance.

Traffic signals at the roundabout are not currently proposed.

He added that until the full police report and results of any inquest are known, the specific circumstances of this tragic incident are not fully known.