Ryedale crash bend 'is lethal' (From Gazette & Herald)

Ryedale crash bend 'is lethal'

A BUSINESSMAN has warned that it is only a matter of time before a sharp bend in a Ryedale road claims a motorist's life because it is inadequately signposted, he claims.

Bob Eldridge has called for North Yorkshire County Council to take action over the right-angled bend near Summertree Bridge on Thornton Road, which runs between High Marishes and Thornton-le-Dale, past his home at Summertree Farm.

"There will be a fatality; I can predict that, there has to be. And when that happens then action will be taken by the highways authority," said Mr Eldridge, who runs a holiday cottage business with his wife, Bridget.

The call comes after a holidaying West Yorkshire couple had a lucky escape on Sunday after the driver, Derek Bailey, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, lost control.

"He took the bend extremely wide and the first thing he hit was a wooden railing on the other side of the bridge," said Mr Eldridge. "The first railing post pierced the car, went straight through the middle of it, through the dashboard and between the two of them. It was a miracle it didn't go through either of them. The car was a write-off."

Mr Eldridge said he had approached Ryedale District Council to warn them about the dangers of the bend, who had in turn contacted the county council, which is the highways authority.

He said the road markings and a sign warning of the bend were renewed, but the road markings had worn off and the signage was inadequate notification of where the bend was and how acute it was.

Mr Eldridge said that during the last ten years he and his wife had helped people involved in accidents four or five times a year.

"The accidents normally happen between 11pm or later," said Mr Eldridge. "Usually we get a knock at the door late at night from someone asking for help.

"It's upsetting because we never know what we're going to find on our doorstep. My wife and I joke that we're the fifth emergency service. "

Tony Wright, county council area traffic manager, said action was taken on areas where there was an accident history collated by the police reports on personal injuries.

He said there was not a significant accident history for the bend, but if residents were concerned they should contact the council.

Updated: 13:20 Tuesday, April 27, 2004