Update: Petition after fatal Crawley crash to be presented to council

Scene of a fatal RTC on A23 near the K2 on 29-04-16 Pic Steve Robards SR1612478 SUS-160305-112030001

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A petition calling for a new footbridge over the A23 after a pedestrian died in a collision will be considered by West Sussex County Council.

More than 1,000 people backed the call after Robert Sims, 30, of Crawley, was struck by a car near the K2 leisure centre on Friday (April 29).

Leonie Markwick, who started the e-petition (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/petition-for-a-pedestrian-bridge-over-a23-near-k2) on ipetitions.com, has asked the company to close it for her to formally submit it to the county council.

It calls on West Sussex County Council to create a footbridge over the A23 between the K2 and the checkatrade.com stadium.

Leonie Marwick wrote: “I started this petition because this road has been a danger since the checkatrade stadium was initially built and K2 being built. Yes, there are a set of pedestrian lights by the road entrance to K2, but that’s not enough!

“There needs to be a footbridge because women and kids will not feel safe using underpasses, especially with the number of sexual assaults which have recently happened in the town.

“This area is abundantly a family oriented area as there’s a school, a leisure complex and a football stadium in direct vicinity of the road.

“It’s a tragedy for the families of the people who have died on this road that family clearly wasn’t in mind when it comes to road safety.

She added: “50mph is far too fast.

“The speed should be reduced as well as creating a safe crossing.”

Emergency services, including the air ambulance, were called at 3.13pm after Mr Sims was in collision with a dark coloured hatchback, said police.

Dan Jenkins, who signed the petition, wrote: “A son, a brother, an uncle and a true friend that touched so many lives has now been taken from us all.

“I and my family have just lost a close friend unnecessary, and we are truly crushed.

“Our lives will never be the same, and it should not take a tragedy such as this, which is by no means the first, for the council to realise that something needs to be done.

“In his memory, I personally will be doing all that I can to ensure that another family does not have to be put through this devastating ordeal, and in his memory, this issue is finally addressed.”