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Eight car pile-up at killer junction

27/11/2003

EIGHT cars were involved in a smash at an accident blackspot in Chorlton where a five-year-old boy was killed earlier this year.

The accident at the junction of Hardy Lane and Barlow Moor Road was close to where little Sam Walker was killed in a hit-and-run incident in March.

Now his mum has called for further safety measures at the junction before another accident leads to tragedy once more.

Jackie Thomson said: "Something needs to be done before there are further accidents. If you look at all the other roads in Chorlton of a similar size to Hardy Lane, they have traffic islands and crossings in place. It's so dangerous to cross there.

"Pedestrians need somewhere to cross because it's such a wide road that they end up stuck in the middle. If there is an island there they'll have somewhere to stand."

The latest incident at the accident blackspot was on Saturday, November 22, at 5.20pm.

A man was driving a Citroen van when it collided with another vehicle. The incident resulted in six vehicles waiting at the junction to be shunted into the back of each other. The van also collided with another vehicle on the opposite side of the road.

After the accident four people were taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary where one man was treated for spinal injuries, but his condition was not described as serious. The other three all sustained minor injuries.

Councillor John Leech said: "This is a serious incident and the area is an accident blackspot. There are lots of accidents and near misses close to this junction. We need to make the road as safe as possible."

A council spokesperson said: "This is a safe junction so replacing the island is unnecessary."

• Wayne Billen, 23, of Floyd Avenue, Chorlton has been charged with dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.