Last updated at 13:56, Monday, 10 January 2011

A YOUNG man has died following an horrific car crash.

CRASH SCENE: A police sign appealing for information on the RTC which resulted in a fatality on saturday evening on the road near Hazel Mount Lodge Thwaites, on the A595 involving a VW Golf. MARTIN MOSER REF: 0570766

The 24-year-old was driving a white Volkswagen Golf along the A595 near to Thwaites when the car left the road, went down an embankment and hit a tree.

Police and ambulance crews attended the scene along with fire engines from Broughton and Millom.

Firefighters retrieved the car and freed the man from the vehicle but he was pronounced dead.

Alan Sherwood, of Hazel Mount Lodge, Thwaites, was first on the scene.

He said: “I came out of the house and I could see some lights by the banking. I ran up and there was this car which had hit a tree.

“It was a bad smash. I ran back for a torch, I tried shouting to him but his eyes were closed – I knew then that it wasn’t so good.

“I rang 999 and the police were here in about six minutes.

“He must just have taken off at the top of the embankment. I was a bit shaken.”

The man had not been named this morning, however it is understood he was connected to Millom RLFC. The club declined to comment on the matter.

Police were still trying to contact his family – who are believed to live abroad – and to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the crash.

While there is no suggestion speed was a factor in the incident, Mr Sherwood has called for a speed limit to be introduced on the stretch of road near to the top of Buckman Brow.

He said: “I’ve lived here for 25 years and we’ve had three (accidents) in the last 12 months – people come far too fast from Thwaites right through here.

“I would say we need a speed limit of 40mph like they have at The Hill.

“We get all the Ghyll Scaur wagons, they carry 36 tonnes – if we were going across the road and stalled, they wouldn’t have a chance to stop.”

Watch manager Stuart Dolan, of Barrow fire station, said: “We had two appliances, one from Millom and one from Broughton, they assisted with scene management and released a trapped person from the vehicle once the car had been recovered.”

Inspector Chris Wright, of Cumbria police, said: “We received a call at around 5.15pm on Saturday for a one-vehicle road traffic collision near Millom.

“A Volkswagen Golf driven by a 24-year-old male from Barrow left the road, went down an embankment and hit a tree. He received fatal injuries.

“We are trying to ascertain the circumstances at this moment in time.”

The road was closed for around two hours while fire crews recovered the vehicle but police said the road closure caused no major traffic problems.

First published at 13:09, Monday, 10 January 2011
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk