![Popular Barnstaple teacher Sara Bluett was not wearing a seatbelt in fatal A39 crash, inquest told]()
This is North Devon -- A POPULAR Barnstaple teacher who died in a two-vehicle crash near Bude earlier this year was not wearing a seatbelt, an inquest has heard. Sara Bluett, 46, who was deputy head of the design and technology department at The Park Community School, died in a crash on the A39 two miles out of Kilkhampton on March 22. The graphics teacher was driving a Volkswagen Polo when it was in collision with a Ford 4x4 vehicle towing a trailer at 7.15am. The 4x4, which had gas bottles in the back and was towing a cattle pen trailer, ended up on its side as it crashed into a ditch. Miss Bluett died at the scene from multiple injuries while the driver of the 4x4, Stuart Woollen, from Northam, was knocked unconscious and flown to Plymouth's Derriford Hospital by air ambulance to be treated for serious leg injuries. Coroner Andrew Cox recorded a verdict on December 11 that Miss Bluett died as the result of the crash. He said Mr Woollen was at the head of four vehicles driving west when the VW Polo came across the road towards him. Miss Bluett was thrown across the front seats of her car and out through the passenger door into the road. Mr Cox said: "I am not able to come to a conclusion as to why she crossed the carriageway. She may have been momentarily distracted, I do not know. "It appears that Sara was not wearing her seatbelt, and if she had been she may have survived." Miss Bluett lived in Widemouth Bay with her partner Guy Watton, who attended the inquest, and her son Jack. Mr Woollen, 42, a cattle dealer, said he saw her silver car losing control. He said: "The driving was erratic and the car was starting to swerve across the road at me. "It all happened so fast. I tried to steer towards the hedge but I didn't have time to avoid the car." Police examiners found the speedometers of both vehicles had stuck at around 60mph. Nurse Susan Matthews was travelling behind the vehicles when she heard "an explosive bang". She ran to the Polo, found no-one inside but then saw a body under the rear wheel of the pickup. "I checked for a pulse but didn't find one," she said. Miss Bluett, who was popular with friends, colleagues and pupils, completed a teaching degree at Middlesex University in 1990 and later obtained a master's degree in design and technology education from Sheffield Hallam University. Before joining the design and technology department at The Park Community School she had worked in London for 10 years, and had also spent a year teaching in Australia. In 2005 she spent a half-term week exchanging experiences with teachers in Uganda with the charity Education Action. She raised more than £6,000 for schools in Uganda through events in Bude, including a Bob Marley Night. Following her death, hundreds of floral tributes were laid outside Park School and pupils held a vigil and lantern release in her memory. Journal reporter Sophie Prideaux was taught graphics by the much-loved teacher. She said: "When something as tragic as this happens, you really gauge the impact that someone has had on other people's lives. "It is clear from the hundreds of tributes paid to Miss Bluett, that she was someone who made such a difference to so many people. "As a teacher, she was inspiring. She was always ready with words of encouragement and I always looked forward to her lessons, as did many of my friends. "I left Park School in 2007, but she was a teacher who I always remembered, and it's clear that many of her students – past and present – feel exactly the same. "I'm sure she will continue to inspire all of her students and will be greatly missed."
Reported by This is 10 hours ago.
This is Dorset -- A WOMAN was taken to hospital after a car crash in Poole. Firefighters were called to the junction of Cromer Road and Sheringham Road at around 7:15pm last night after two cars collided. Officers used hydraulic cutting equipment to remove the roof from one of the vehicles in order for the trapped woman to be removed from her car. Cromer Road was closed while recovery work took place and was reopened by 9:30pm.
Reported by This is 12 hours ago.
This is Leicestershire -- Two people were taken to hospital after a collision involving two cars and a lorry. Emergency services were called to the crash scene – on the A563, New Parks Way ring road, Leicester, just before 10.30pm, yesterday. A fire service spokesman said: "The collision involved two cars and a heavy goods vehicles. "Paramedics were on the scene and two casualties were taken by ambulance to Leicester Royal Infirmary with minor injuries." He said the scene was made safe and a stop message received by fire control at 10.52pm.
Reported by This is 11 hours ago.
This is Hull and East Riding --
This is North Devon -- A POPULAR Barnstaple teacher who died in a two-vehicle crash near Bude earlier this year was not wearing a seatbelt, an inquest has heard. Sara Bluett, 46, who was deputy head of the design and technology department at The Park Community School, died in a crash on the A39 two miles out of Kilkhampton on March 22. The graphics teacher was driving a Volkswagen Polo when it was in collision with a Ford 4x4 vehicle towing a trailer at 7.15am. The 4x4, which had gas bottles in the back and was towing a cattle pen trailer, ended up on its side as it crashed into a ditch. Miss Bluett died at the scene from multiple injuries while the driver of the 4x4, Stuart Woollen, from Northam, was knocked unconscious and flown to Plymouth's Derriford Hospital by air ambulance to be treated for serious leg injuries. Coroner Andrew Cox recorded a verdict on December 11 that Miss Bluett died as the result of the crash. He said Mr Woollen was at the head of four vehicles driving west when the VW Polo came across the road towards him. Miss Bluett was thrown across the front seats of her car and out through the passenger door into the road. Mr Cox said: "I am not able to come to a conclusion as to why she crossed the carriageway. She may have been momentarily distracted, I do not know. "It appears that Sara was not wearing her seatbelt, and if she had been she may have survived." Miss Bluett lived in Widemouth Bay with her partner Guy Watton, who attended the inquest, and her son Jack. Mr Woollen, 42, a cattle dealer, said he saw her silver car losing control. He said: "The driving was erratic and the car was starting to swerve across the road at me. "It all happened so fast. I tried to steer towards the hedge but I didn't have time to avoid the car." Police examiners found the speedometers of both vehicles had stuck at around 60mph. Nurse Susan Matthews was travelling behind the vehicles when she heard "an explosive bang". She ran to the Polo, found no-one inside but then saw a body under the rear wheel of the pickup. "I checked for a pulse but didn't find one," she said. Miss Bluett, who was popular with friends, colleagues and pupils, completed a teaching degree at Middlesex University in 1990 and later obtained a master's degree in design and technology education from Sheffield Hallam University. Before joining the design and technology department at The Park Community School she had worked in London for 10 years, and had also spent a year teaching in Australia. In 2005 she spent a half-term week exchanging experiences with teachers in Uganda with the charity Education Action. She raised more than £6,000 for schools in Uganda through events in Bude, including a Bob Marley Night. Following her death, hundreds of floral tributes were laid outside Park School and pupils held a vigil and lantern release in her memory. Journal reporter Sophie Prideaux was taught graphics by the much-loved teacher. She said: "When something as tragic as this happens, you really gauge the impact that someone has had on other people's lives. "It is clear from the hundreds of tributes paid to Miss Bluett, that she was someone who made such a difference to so many people. "As a teacher, she was inspiring. She was always ready with words of encouragement and I always looked forward to her lessons, as did many of my friends. "I left Park School in 2007, but she was a teacher who I always remembered, and it's clear that many of her students – past and present – feel exactly the same. "I'm sure she will continue to inspire all of her students and will be greatly missed."
Reported by This is 10 hours ago.
This is Grimsby -- The man injured in a crash in Ulceby on Monday is "recovering well" in hospital, police have said. The 65-year-old was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary after the crash between a red Kia Soul and a green Land Rover Freelander on Spruce Road at around 2.20pm A 50-year-old woman passenger in the Land Rover was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary with minor injuries. The road did not reopen until around 10pm. Anyone who witnessed the collision is requested to contact the police on 101 quoting log number 410 of December 16.
Reported by This is 8 hours ago.
This is Scunthorpe -- FIVE vehicles have been involved in a crash outside Humberside Airport, causing traffic delays both ways on the A18. The incident involved a Citreon Berlingo, a white Nissan van, a black Mercedes car, silver Ford Fiesta and a silver Mitsubishi Colt. Police said it was unclear whether anyone had been injured, but that no-one is believed to have been seriously hurt. The fire service also attended, reporting that one woman was taken to hospital for precautionary checks. The road has re-opened following the collision, having been temporarily blocked while the vehicles were removed. One hose reel was used during the clean-up to wash loose debris from the road surface. Stay logged on for updates.
Reported by This is 8 hours ago.
This is Dorset -- A CRASH has closed the A352 West Stafford Bypass this afternoon. The road is closed in both directions between the Max Gate Roundabout and the Knighton Lane junction. Motorists should expect delays for some time while recovery work is carried out.
Reported by This is 7 hours ago.
The former Manchester City defender who was jailed after causing the death of two people in a car crash has admitted he feared his career as a footballer was over before joining Carlisle United, where he has now signed a two-and-a-half year deal.
Reported by MailOnline 4 hours ago.
This is South Devon -- CRASH UPDATE. The fire service has confirmed a person was trapped and subsequently freed in a crash at Harbertonford today. They have also revealed a dog died in the accident on the A381 at just after 2. 30pm. Two appliances from Totnes and one Dartmouth were mobilised to the scene of the accident which closed the road. On arrival at the incident the crews confirmed that the collision involved two cars and two LGVs and that one person was medically trapped. The casualty was released using hydraulic rescue equipment and conveyed to hospital by ambulance. One dog was fatally injured and another dog taken to a local vet for treatment.
Reported by This is 4 hours ago.
This is Grimsby -- Two people have been taken to hospital - one of them by air ambulance - following a serious crash on the A46 at Middle Rasen.
This is Scunthorpe -- A MAN and three-year-old child were involved in a car crash this morning (Thursday, December 19). Both the man and child were given precautionary checks by paramedics and the incident was left with Humberside Police. It involved one vehicle, on Beltoft Road, Epworth, emergency services being sent to the scene. Stay logged on for updates. *Follow us on Facebook and Twitter*
Reported by This is 12 hours ago.
This is Somerset -- A man was killed in a crash in Castle Cary yesterday. At around 1.45pm, there was a collision between a Ford Focus and a Ford Fiesta on Woodcock Street. The driver of the Ford Focus, believed to be a man in his 70s, died at the scene. An investigation into the circumstances of the collision has begun and anyone with information is asked to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101.
Reported by This is 12 hours ago.
This is Lincolnshire -- A woman was airlifted to hospital after a serious crash on the A46 near Market Rasen last night. A Ford and an Audi crashed just after 6pm on Caistor Road. Fire crews from Market Rasen, Caistor and Lincoln North used hydraulic cutting equipment to release a woman who was then taken to hospital by air ambulance. The crash closed the road in both directions.
Reported by This is 13 hours ago.
This is Grimsby -- A woman was taken to hospital on a spinal board after a crash during rush hour in Humberston this morning. A Vauxhall Corsa went into the back of a Fiat Punto on Church Avenue at around 8.20am. PC Rob Stanley, a Humberside Roads Policing officer, said two women in the Punto were taken to hospital by ambulance, one of whom was taken on a spinal board. The driver of the Corsa, a man from Grimsby, was shaken but uninjured.
Reported by This is 11 hours ago.