Bereaved hospital boss in safety call

Ian Greenwood, of Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said more than 2,000 people were admitted to its accident and emergency departments between April and September this year as a result of road accidents.

Mr Greenwood, the trust’s director of strategic development, told how his 12-year-old daughter Alice had died in an accident three years ago, and called for people to support road safety charity Brake.

The safety organisation is due to will launch its Too Young To Die campaign next Monday to try to draw attention to the fact that road crashes are the biggest killer of young people.

The charity said that many deaths are preventable as they are caused by careless or dangerous driving.

Mr Greenwood said his daughter Alice was a back-seat passenger in a car driven by her mother when she was killed.

What were described as “boy racers” ploughed head-on into the vehicle.

He added: “Alice was just 12 and was full of life. In a split second, all that changed. Six cars had been racing each other along a country road – and two of the young drivers were also killed.

“Alice’s mother was badly injured in the crash in 2008 and spent many months in and out of hospital.

“That was three families devastated forever for a few minutes’ speeding.

“I can’t emphasise enough the importance of stopping this needless loss of young lives on our roads. Young people must look out for themselves and their friends, and speak out against dangerous behaviour.

“Take the pledge – the pledge to drive safely – and save lives,” said Mr Greenwood.