Bridge crash claims life of 12-year-old boy

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy died and a woman was injured in a car crash on the Erskine Bridge.

The boy was declared dead at the scene of the crash which happened at about midday yesterday.

The incident happened on the north-bound carriageway of the bridge in West Dumbartonshire. No other vehicles were involved.

The woman driver of the car was taken to hospital. Her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

A stretch of the north-bound section of the bridge remained closed to traffic last night.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: “Strathclyde Police were called at about 12 noon on Sunday to a report of a road crash involving one car on the north-bound carriageway of the Erskine Bridge at the Dumbarton and Clydebank cut-offs.

“Police attended, but sadly a 12-year-old boy died at the scene.

“The woman driver has been taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, in Paisley, where she is receiving treatment for her injuries.

“Inquiries are ongoing into the cause of the crash and any witnesses are asked to contact the Road Policing Department at Helen Street on 0141 532 6400.”

Meanwhile, a motorcyclist who died in a road crash on Friday has been named as transport businessman David Murray.

Mr Murray, 66, who ran the David Murray Transport haulage company based in Carnoustie, Angus, was riding his red and silver MV Agusta motorbike on the A94 road near Meigle, Perthshire, when he was involved in the crash on Friday.

The fatality is the latest involving motorcycles on Scottish roads, bringing the total so far this year to 16.

In a statement released through Tayside Police, Mr Murray’s family described him as “a well known local haulier and businessman who was very active in the local community and a devoted family man”.

Mr Murray, 66, started his business in 1987 – buying a single lorry to take up a haulage contract for a local company in Carnoustie. The company now runs 21 lorries on long-distance and local contracts across the country, employing more than 25 staff. Mr Murray leaves his wife Margaret and daughter Wendy, who both work for the firm.

According to the most recent statistics in Scotland, there were 844 road accidents and 35 fatalities in 2010. The AA said that although UK road casualties were at an all-time low, more people may be turning to motorcycles as a cheaper alternative, risking further accidents.

A spokesman said: “People are desperately trying to find ways of staying mobile and it seems more are turning to motorcycles that may put more of them in danger.

“This is one of the downsides of higher fuel costs, particularly amongst youngsters having to turn to two wheels to get to their first jobs.”

In Friday’s accident, at the junction with the unclassified Kirkinch Road at about 1:25pm, the driver and two passengers of a blue Vauxhall Vectra sustained serious injuries and were taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee for treatment.

The driver was released on Saturday, while the two passengers remained in hospital for further treatment.

Police are now trying to trace the driver of a silver car travelling east, who may have passed Mr Murray seconds before the collision.

A spokesman for Tayside Police said their investigation into the tragedy was continuing.