A Devon and Cornwall road safety partnership has issued an urgent message to drivers after spike in fatal collisions on our roads.

In the past few weeks there have been 10 serious collisions across the two counties, five of them fatal. Details of some of those collisions can be found below.

Devon and Cornwall Police, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and the Devon Air Ambulance – all of whom are members of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership - played vital roles in attending these incidents.

Major Accident Investigations have taken place and enquiries are still ongoing with police appealing for witnesses to come forward. Five coroner’s court hearings have also been scheduled to take place.

PS Owen Messenger of the Alliance Road Casualty Reduction Team for Devon and Cornwall Police and Dorset Police issued a stark warning to motorists.

He said: ‘Each one of these serious collisions is a tragedy with devastating and far-reaching consequences.

‘Several of these collisions happened within a few miles of each other so the public can expect a lot more enforcement activity here – and across our larger roads network – over the coming weeks.

‘I would urge all drivers – whether local to the area or visiting on holiday – to stick to a safe speed, particularly on our rural roads. Leave for your journey earlier, give yourself more time and don’t hurry.

‘The last thing we want is to knock on any more doors to explain to someone that their loved one will not be returning home.’

Max Chantrey, Road Safety Officer, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, added: ‘With more drivers and motorcyclists on our roads than ever before, it’s even more important to drive with awareness.

‘Be aware of your situation: the conditions of the road, the weather conditions and the time of travel. Also be aware your own driving state: Are you tired? distracted?

‘The speed limit is there as a limit, not a target. Always take regular breaks and reduce your speed to stay in control. No one expects to be involved in a collision, so make sure it isn’t you.

Nigel Hare, Director of Patient Services for Devon Air Ambulance, said: ‘Every fatal road traffic collision is a tragedy, not just for the family and friends of those that have died, but also for others who were directly involved or who kindly stopped to render help and assistance.

‘The greatest tragedy, however, is that often these collisions are avoidable.’

Details of some of the collisions

19/7/21 - Fatal road traffic collision, South Molton – Driver pronounced dead at the scene

Police were called to reports of a road traffic collision involving a car and a lorry on the B3226, near the North Aller roundabout, near South Molton, at around 1.40pm, on Monday 19 July.

The 58-year-old male driver of a silver Hyundai Ix35 car, who was from the Bideford area, was pronounced dead at the scene by the ambulance service.

The driver of the lorry was uninjured.

Local officers and officers from the Road Policing Team attended and the road was closed while an examination of the scene was carried out. The road was reopened at around 5.30pm.

22/7/21 – RTC A386 near Yelverton - One man injured and taken to hospital –

Police were called at around 8.30pm on Thursday 22 July to the A386 at Crapstone near Yelverton following reports of a two-vehicle collision.

The incident involved a van and a motorcycle.

The motorcyclist, a man in his 40s from Liskeard, sustained multiple serious and potentially life-changing injuries. He was taken to Derriford hospital.

24/7/21 - Serious collision, A39 Barnstaple – Six people injured, one airlifted to hospital

Officers were called at 5pm following a collision between a Mercedes and a VW Transporter van on the A39 Shirwell Road at the junction with the B3230.

The occupants of both vehicles, not local to the area, all sustained injuries. Six people were taken to hospital, three of them with serious injuries.

Four people in the van were taken to North Devon District Hospital. A 12-year-old boy was later transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital with injuries described as life-threatening.

Two people in the Mercedes, a man and woman in their 80s, were seriously injured. The woman was airlifted to Derriford Hospital by air ambulance and the man was taken to North Devon District Hospital.

The road was closed for five hours for a specialist investigation of the scene to take place.

27/7/21 - Fatal RTC, A388 Torrington – Motorbike rider deceased

A motorbike rider who died in a collision at Torrington on Tuesday 27 July has been named as 19-year-old Brandon Buckman, from Beaworthy.

Police were called to reports of a collision involving a red Suzuki motorbike, two rigid heavy goods vehicles and a white Ford van at around 3.10pm. The rider of the motorbike was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 59-year-old man from the Torpoint area, a 39-year-old man from the Bude area and another man local to the area were uninjured in the collision.

Local officers as well as officers from the roads policing team and the Serious Collison Investigation Team attended the scene and a forensic examination was completed.

28/7/21 - Fatal collision, A386 near Bideford - One man deceased

Police were called shortly before 10.50pm on Wednesday 28 July to the A386 at Loxdown Cross following reports of a single vehicle collision.

As a result of the collision, the driver of a black BMW 1 series, a man in his 20s, sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

His next of kin have been informed and are being supporting by specially trained officers.

Specialist officers from Devon and Cornwall’s Roads Policing team attended the collision and an investigation has commenced.

29/7/21 – Serious RTC - A30 Indian Queens – Driver helicoptered to hospital

On Thursday 29 July 2021 at approximately 2.45pm, Police Ambulance and Fire were called to a road traffic collision on the A30 at Indian Queens.

Two vehicles were involved in the incident which caused serious injuries to one of the drivers.

This driver was airlifted to Derriford Hospital by the Air Ambulance.

Officers attended the incident and commenced an investigation of the scene to establish the cause of the collision.

30/7/21 - A386 Landcross, Bideford – Driver pronounced dead at the scene

At 10:57 hours on Friday 30th July 2021 there was a report of a three vehicle collision on the A386 at Landcross near Bideford involving a white Peugeot, a silver Renault and a Heavy Goods Vehicle.

The driver of the Peugeot, a 52 year old local male, was extracted from the vehicle by the Fire Service and CPR administered. Sadly, the CPR was unsuccessful, and the driver was pronounced deceased at scene.

Local Police Officers, Fire Service, Paramedics and officers from the Roads Policing Team attended.

31/7/21 - Serious injury collision, Exmouth - Three people injured

Police were called at around 6.45pm on Saturday 31 July to Exeter Road, Exmouth, following reports of a three-vehicle collision.

The incident involved a blue coloured Suzuki Splash, a black coloured Renault Clio and a grey coloured Hyundai Tuscon.

The elderly driver and front seat passenger of the Suzuki sustained serious injuries and were taken to hospital. The driver of the Renault Clio, a woman in her 20s, also sustained a potentially serious injury.

1/8/21 - Serious RTC - Deep Lane End Plymouth – One man taken to hospital

At approximately 11:29 hours on Sunday 1st August 2021 emergency services were notified of a single vehicle road traffic collision involving a Ford Fiesta on A38 Deep Lane Plympton off-slip, Plymouth.

South West Ambulance Services and Devon & Cornwall Police attended the incident. A local man was taken to Derriford Hospital following this incident.

Plympton off-slip was closed to allow for an examination of the scene and recovery of the vehicle.