Mum dies 10 months after A64 blackspot accident

Mother-of-two Christine Old, 49, was trapped in her Ford car after colliding with a lorry on the A64 at Bilbrough Top on November 26, 2001.

She was taken to hospital with chest and wrist injuries. Doctors also discovered a small perforation in her bowel, which led to severe complications, an inquest heard.

Mrs Old died on September 24 last year. North Yorkshire coroner Geoff Fell said her death originated from the injuries she suffered in the road accident ten months before.

After hearing from police that Bilbrough Top junction was the scene of numerous accidents, including several fatalities, Mr Fell said he would be writing to the Highways Agency, expressing his concern.

The Evening Press has been campaigning for almost four years for the gap to be shut.

But agency chiefs say they cannot close it until June, when work is due to start on a new flyover.

Today Mrs Old's family called for the gap to be closed immediately to prevent further carnage.

Her sister, Heather Condliffe, who works for Norwich Union, in York, said: "How many lives does it take before they close it? If they had taken action earlier my sister would still be alive today. It makes me feel very angry.

"June is nearly three months away and another person could be killed before they shut it."

Mrs Condliffe, of Hook, near Goole, said: "Christine was taken into hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening and I never dreamt she would die. I don't think I will ever come to terms with it."

Mrs Old, of Goole, was crossing through the gap in the central reservation to head towards York on the eastbound carriageway when the accident happened.

Mr Fell told the Selby inquest that Mrs Old misjudged the situation and drove out in front of the lorry.

He said the bowel perforation led to a fatal combination of medical problems, including peritonitis, septicaemia, pneumonia and the MRSA "super bug".

Mr Fell recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Updated: 11:04 Monday, March 10, 2003