Shrewsbury mum to meet Roads Minister following fatal North Wales crash

Crystal Owen is campaigning for graduated driving licences.

The mum of 17 year old Harvey Owen wants to see tighter restrictions for new drivers.
Author: Lauren JonesPublished 17th Apr 2024

A Shrewsbury mum, whose son was one of four youngsters killed in a crash in North Wales last year, is to meet with Roads Minister Guy Opperman to call for tighter restrictions on young drivers.

Crystal Owen's 17-year-old son, Harvey, died in Gwynedd in November after the car he was in left the road and overturned.

His friends - Wilf Fitchett, Jevon Hirst, and Hugo Morris - were also killed.

Crystal has started a petition and is campaigning for the introduction of a graduated driving license, which would restrict what young drivers are able to do when they first pass their test.

She told us Harvey's death has been devastating: "All that's left of his physical self is an urn full of ashes that i've not even been able to face collecting.

"To me that's final then... I can't face the reality that this is the end for him".

Restrictions young drivers could face under a graduated driving licence include the number of passengers they can carry and whether they're able to drive at night.

Crystal told us she doesn't believe the move would be unfair on youngsters: "From the policymakers in the past they've they say that its too restrictive for young people.

"We're not restricting young drivers - we're making sure they have a future to enjoy.

"Nobody ever thinks that this is going to happen to them. My 17 year old son certainly didn't think that when he got a lift with a mate.

"He had his whole life ahead of him so much promise, so many plans for the future and its just been wiped out in such a preventable way.

"This is just a no brainer - it saves the economy money, it saves pressure on the NHS and it saves lives".

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