A NEW call for safety action at “dangerous” bends on a major road between Craven and West Yorkshire has been made following the death of a 20-year-old man in a head-on crash.

The victim, from Long Preston, was killed at around 3pm on Saturday on the A629 between Kildwick and Cononley when his light blue Alfa Romeo 147, travelling towards Skipton, collided with a silver Peugeot 407 heading in the opposite direction.

Police have launched an urgent appeal for witnesses to the crash.

The Alfa Romeo driver, who has not yet been named by police, was pronounced dead at the scene. Arthur Modd, Long Preston village postmaster, who knew the young man, said: “It’s a hell of a shock, a real tragedy.

“He was a grand lad. He will be greatly missed in the village.”

The four occupants of the Peugeot, from Preston, were all taken to Airedale Hospital.

The driver, a 55-year-old man, sustained serious injuries, a 53-year-old woman suffered a broken leg, and a man and woman, both aged 26, were treated for minor injuries.

A number of witnesses have come forward who were travelling behind the Peugeot, but police investigators also need to speak to anyone who saw the movements of the light blue Alfa Romeo.

Traffic Constable Ken Riley said: “It’s important that we speak to people who saw the cars before the collision as well as anyone who saw the crash happen.

“If you can assist in any way, please come forward as you could have important information that could help our investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Skipton Roads Policing Group, or email Kenneth.riley@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk, quoting reference 12140120030.

Local county councillor Patrick Mulligan called for action to warn drivers about the bends. The crash occurred 400 metres south of the junction with Cononley Lane. Cllr Mulligan said the bends were dangerous because though l Turn to Page 3 drivers might be travelling under the 60mph speed limit they could still be driving at an “inappropriate speed”.

He said: “We should put up a matrix sign to warn people that this is a dangerous bend,” adding such a sign could also warn drivers about the Cononley Lane Ends junction, which has consistently ranked amongst the worst accident blackspots in Craven.

The matrix sign was among the suggestions offered at a public meeting held in Cononley in April.

“Everyone fromCononley and Farnhill get so frustrated about this,” said Cllr Mulligan. “North Yorkshire keeps dragging its feet all the time. We’re not getting a timely response, which is concerning especially when something like this happens.

“I know it takes time, but this issue has been going on literally for years. You can’t put a price on a person’s life.”

Cllr Gareth Dadd, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways and planning, said: “We’d like to offer our condolences to the family of the young man who died, but we’re waiting for details of the police report before we make further comment.”