Road safety campaigner John Michael Duggan died in hospital following the crash in North Yorkshire despite the best efforts of medical staff – a driver of another vehicle has been arrested
A road safety campaigner has been killed in a crash on the stretch of highway he called to be made safer.
John Michael Duggan, 81, died in hospital following the crash on the A19 near Riccal, North Yorkshire, at about 10.30am on August 1. The driver of a white DAF skip lorry, a 42-year-old man from York, that collided with Duggan’s black Nissan Juke as the ex-councillor joined the A19 from York Road, has been apprehended.
Mr Duggan was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by air ambulance with serious injuries, but he was pronounced dead later. The A19, which runs from York in the north to Selby in the south, has national speed limit restrictions at the junction with York Road, where drivers join at a ‘give way’ junction. It comes after a man died after his wife ran him over in car park in a ‘tragic accident’.
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Selby MP Keir Mather said Mr Duggan, a former Selby District Council and North Yorkshire County Council councillor, had campaigned for better road safety in Riccall. In 2019, Mr Duggan campaigned for a roundabout on the A19 to help prevent crashes after a crash which saw two people taken to hospital.
An £850,000 road safety scheme to install the roundabout was scheduled to be built in 2007, but was subsequently axed with funds reallocated. In 2019, Mr Duggan said: “The road is a lot busier than it was then, and accidents show people are trying to get out there but can’t.
“It’s quite common between Selby and York, the morning rush hour is car after car in both directions and you have to wait sometimes more than five minutes before you can get space and get out, it’s such a busy road.” Speaking after Mr Duggan’s death, Keir Mather MP said: “This tragedy makes awfully clear the need for road safety improvements at both A19 junctions in Riccall.
“When I’ve canvassed or held drop-in events in Riccall this has always been what’s come up. Anyone who uses either of the Riccall/A19 junctions knows that they feel unsafe, and that’s what I’ve tried to impress on North Yorkshire Council previously that we need a new roundabout or at the very least a speed reduction.
“I will redouble my efforts to make North Yorkshire Council think again about the necessity of road safety improvements in Riccall. I’ve heard from so many people who agree and I’ve made contact with the parish council to discuss next steps – we’ll only achieve this by working together.
“The most important thing in the next few days is that John’s family are given the time to grieve and reflect on his memory, both as a family man and as a proud local campaigner for the village he called home. We owe it to his memory to see action taken, and people in Riccall can be certain of my full and unwavering support. Rest in peace John.”
North Yorkshire Council has been contacted for comment.
