Road safety petition handed to councils after nine-year-old boy killed in hit-and-run

Nine-year-old George Lewis was killed on Sutton Lane in Sutton-in-Craven as he walked home from the local cricket club with his dad Michael.

The 49-year-old driver fled the scene, but later handed himself into police and was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after the incident on September 17.

A petition supported by 745 people has now been handed into North Yorkshire County Council and Bradford Council, and will be debated at a meeting on Thursday (December 16).

Those who have supported the petition have described the cross-border road as a “nightmare” and “very dangerous”.

Councillor Stephen Morrell, who is chairman of Sutton Parish Council and also represents the area on Craven District Council, said safety on Sutton Lane has been a concern for some time and that he is now hopeful improvements could be made.

He said: “My thoughts first and foremost are with George’s family. It’s a horrendous situation that they have had to go through and are still dealing with. Sutton Lane is a cross-border lane and there have been historic difficulties in dealing with road safety.

“We are now making progress and I feel there is a good chance we are going to make a difference. It’s just a shame that these discussions have come about because of this tragedy.”

A report to Thursday’s North Yorkshire Council County meeting said the authority was working with Bradford Council on improvements for the road, but added previous attempts to purchase land for a footpath had been “unsuccessful”.

The report said: “There are also engineering challenges due to significant level differences between the carriageway and adjoining fields that also flood during periods of heavy rain.

“Nevertheless, it is important to make progress and it remains for both authorities to work quickly to deliver a road safety scheme. Renewed efforts to engage with land owners and understand the respective engineering challenges and cost will continue in parallel.”

After the incident on September 17, a statement from West Yorkshire Police said officers were called shortly after 9.30pm to a report of a collision on Sutton Lane near the junction with Knott Lane.

The statement said: “Emergency services attended, including the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, despite medical treatment, a nine-year-old boy was pronounced deceased at the scene.

“It was reported that a white van was in collision with the boy, and another pedestrian who suffered minor injuries, before making off from the scene.”