A COMMUNITY UNITED IN GRIEF

Mar 11 2009 by Vicki Kellaway, Bromborough and Bebington News

A HORROR smash which killed five people at one of the borough's most notorious accident blackspots has left a community in shock.

A six-year-old girl was among those who died in the two-car crash on Sunday morning at Spital Road, Spital.

Olivia Wood died alongside her great aunt Ann Hargreaves, 71, from Bromborough, who was driving her silver Corsa.

Ms Hargreaves’s sister, and Olivia’s grandmother, Linda Wood, 59, from Eastham, and friend Joan Roden-Jones, 64, were also killed.

The car was hit by a blue Renault Megane just before midday. The driver, former minister the Reverend Dr Graham Mercer, also died in the smash.

It is believed the 73-year-old lost control of his car after apparently suffering a seizure at the wheel.

The crash has prompted calls from the surrounding community for the safety of Spital Road to be looked into.

Bromborough councillor Steve Niblock said: "While this is obviously a very tragic accident it nonetheless again highlights the problems on Spital Road.

"It is not the first time someone has hit that wall. I have, along with my colleagues, called for a meeting with representatives from the police, fire and highways engineers to see if there is anything we can do to make the road safer.

"Since the crash I have had a number of emails and phone calls from concerned residents who don't want to see a crash like this happen again.

"One of the firefighters who was at the scene said that the crash was the worst he had seen in 25 years in service. It is certainly the worst I know to have happened in the area.

"My thoughts and prayers now go to the families of those who died."

The Rev Dr Mercer was a well-loved United Reformed Church minister based at Highfield Church in Rock Lane West and St George’s in Thornton Hough before he retired.

His car ploughed through a wall before careering into the path of Ms Hargreaves’ Corsa, close to the junction with Arkwood Close.

Rev Howard Sharpe, moderator of the Mersey Synod of the United Reformed Church described him as a "good minister and a lovely, kind man". Office administrator Liz Taylor, 57, had been sat in her lounge when she saw the Megane come down the hill. She said: “It was going incredibly fast and then there was a thud as it hit our wall.

“My husband Peter rushed out and the two cars were spread across the road. As soon as we saw the man in the Megane we knew this wasn’t a boy racer going too fast. It was an incredible speed.

“He was very poorly and was slumped across the passenger seat. One of our neighbours, an off-duty fireman, said 'he’s gone’.

“We were joined by an off-duty nurse from Arrowe Park’s Critical Care Unit who was driving by on the way to the shops with his fiancee.”

Liz's husband Peter Taylor, 63, said: “They were so dedicated and they did a fantastic job.

“We’re grandparents and we were shocked to hear there’s a little girl involved. Our hearts go out to all the families.

“If the wall had given way more the Megane might not have rebounded out into the traffic. There’s no blame, it’s just a terrible, terrible tragedy.”

Witnesses should call police on 0151 777 5771.