Safety plea to drivers after fatal bank holiday crashes in Cornwall and Devon
Vision Zero South West has described the weekend's incidents as tragic
Last updated 5th May 2022
Four people have lost their lives as a result of collisions on Cornwall and Devon's roads over the bank holiday weekend, sparking a warning to drivers.
The collisions – one in Torquay and another in St Austell - occurred within two hours of each other in the early hours of Sunday 1st May.
Police were called just after midnight on Sunday following a collision between a pedestrian and a car on Barton Hill Road in Torquay.
The pedestrian, a man in his 40s, suffered life-threatening injuries and died in hospital.
Just after 1.30am, police, fire and ambulance crews were called to reports of a single-vehicle collision near St Austell.
It happened on the B3274 at Ruddlemoor and, sadly, three people were pronounced dead at the scene.
The tragic incidents have sparked appeals for information from Devon and Cornwall Police.
"This tragic weekend has seen the needless loss of four lives"
Supt Adrian Leisk, strategic road policing lead and chair of the Vision Zero South West enforcement group, said: "This weekend has been absolutely heart breaking with the tragic loss of four lives on Devon and Cornwall’s roads.
"Both collisions are being investigated by specialist teams and it would not be appropriate to discuss the circumstances until these enquiries are complete.
"I would urge anyone with information about either collision to contact either the police or Crimestoppers on the numbers below. It’s vital we get a clear picture of what happened to help us prevent it again in the future. This includes any dashcam or other video footage.
"I would also like to issue a personal appeal to all motorists in Devon and Cornwall – please take care on the roads.
"This tragic weekend has seen the needless loss of four lives – all of which will have a truly devastating impact on families, friends and loved ones".
You can read more about the work of the Vision Zero South West Road Safety Partnership on its website.