by Heather Pickstock

A coroner is calling on council chiefs to install extra safety measures at a dangerous junction in Long Ashton where a teenager lost his life in a car crash.

Deputy coroner for Avon, Terrence Moore, made the recommendations at an inquest into the death of 17-year-old Nathan Edwards from Burnham-on-Sea, after the investigating police officer said the fatal crash could have been avoided.

Nathan, a talented tennis player, died on November 20 last year after the Peugeot 405 being driven by his mother Sally Edwards, crashed into a Landrover at the junction of Longwood Lane with the busy B3128.

Mrs Edwards, a support worker, was taking Nathan and his friend Corey Nichols to the David Lloyd Leisure Centre when the crash happened.

Corey survived the crash but is still recovering from his injuries.

Mrs Edwards had used Longwood Lane for the first time on the night of the crash to avoid traffic queues and was not familiar with the area.

The inquest at Flax Bourton Coroners Court heard that the white lines at the junction of Longwood Way and the B3128 had been erased and were hardly visible.

The junction was not lit and the only sign warning drivers to give way was eight metres before the junction and partially obscured.

On the night of the crash it was raining heavily and as Mrs Edwards did not see the white lines or signs, she went across the junction and collided with the Landrover.

Witnesses to the accident said the car had "shot out of nowhere".

A post-mortem report revealed that Nathan had died of multiple head injuries and that he would have died instantaneously.

Mrs Edwards told the inquest: "I thought the road was clear and I failed to see any road markings on the road surface. I only realised I was at the junction when it was too late."

Crash investigator, PC Peter Davey, told the inquest that as a result of the road markings being worn away it would be easy for a driver to miss the junction.

PC Davey said: "There was no advance warning signs of the junction.

"The road markings were practically worn away and as a result, the junction is easy to miss.

"Mrs Edwards was unfamiliar with the road and the weather was appalling. Had this junction been clearly marked and signed, then this collision may never have occurred."

The inquest heard that concerned residents had contacted North Somerset Council highways department on several occasions in the months before the crash, calling for safety improvements at the junction.

The white give way lines were repainted at the junction in April 2007 and again, three days after the fatal accident.

The inquest heard how since January 2002 there had been four other accidents at the junction and a further two following Nathan's death.

North Somerset Council road safety officer, John Painter said the number of heavy lorries accessing Dunford Quarry at Longwood Lane may have contributed to the lines being eroded.

Mr Painter said: "There is clearly a problem at this junction with the premature failing of the road markings – I admit they left a lot to be desired."

Mr Painter added that the authority had no statutory duty to erect warning signs on main routes warning of crossroads ahead and that inspections of roads across the district were carried out in accordance with national guidelines.

Further improvements have now been carried out and a sign warning of the junction ahead has now been erected in Longwood Lane and SLOW warnings painted on the road.

Mr Moore recorded a verdict that Nathan's death was an accident but said he would be writing to North Somerset Council to suggest it looked at improving the lighting and considered installing traffic lights.

He also called for the council to improve its inspection regime.

After the inquest, Mrs Edwards said: "We hope that lessons will be learned from this tragedy.

"This junction had been subject to previous accidents and it is only fortune that no one else has been killed.

"If the council had taken notice of those who contacted them, improvements could have been made and this accident may not have happened."