Call for road upgrade as crash victim boy named

A THREE-WEEK-OLD BOY who died after a car crash at an accident blackspot has been named – as an MSP called for urgent road improvements around the accident site.

Oliver Hewson, from Carrutherstown, Dumfries and Galloway, died in hospital after a three-car collision on the A75 Gretna to Stranraer road on Wednesday.

Police said two other people were taken to hospital following the 5pm crash at Hardgrove crossroads, between Dumfries and Annan, but were released after treatment.

Local Labour MSP Elaine Murray said she would be seeking an upgrade of the A75. The cause of the crash is not yet known, but Ms Murray said the road was “a well-known accident blackspot”.

She said: “An improvement to the Hardgrove to Kinmount section of the A75 has been planned for many years. Problems with the traffic orders caused a delay and once these were resolved the Scottish Government decided not to continue with implementation.

“Unfortunately, it has not been given the same priority as roads projects in some other parts of the country.”

Ms Murray said the local community was “very upset” by Oliver’s death, and people who knew the toddler’s family would be angry.

Meanwhile, a man who died in a three-car collision in Maybury Road, Edinburgh, on Wednesday has been named as Billy Casement, 30, of Brand Gardens in the city.