Mother calls for safer road nine years after son killed

Mel Gibson’s son, Jayson, died after being involved in a collision close to the Knowledge Gateway junction, on the A133 Clingoe Hill, in February 2017.

An inquest in August 2017 heard Jayson was out cycling with a friend when they approached a toucan crossing on the Colchester-bound carriageway.

Although the pedestrian and cyclist signals were red at the time, Jayson began to cross.

The inquest heard his friend shouted "stop", but when the teenager was about halfway across the road he was struck by a Vauxhall Astra. He died at the scene from his injuries.

2017 - the scene following the incident

Closing the inquest, senior coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray concluded Jayson died as a result of an accident.

Ms Gibson still believes Jayson wouldn’t have gone through a red light.

She said: “Jayson was hit on the crossing, he pressed the crossing button, his bike wheel locked, the guy who hit him took no evasive action to avoid hitting my son.

“Essex Police dealt with it, decided he hadn’t committed a crime.

“I’ve never received an apology or anything.

“I am living in limbo land, I don’t have closure, how was it never investigated by the CPS, a specialist team could have looked into it."

Jayson's inquest was told the driver would not have had the time to react to him crossing the road.

Investigating officer PC Mark Hemingway, of the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit, told the court the driver was not travelling at a speed above the 50mph speed limit.

2017 - tributes left for Jayson

Jayson was born on November 2, 2001. Last Monday would have been his 25th birthday.

Clingoe Hill has been branded as unsafe by residents and ward councillors over the years.

Ms Gibson still wants more measures to be put in place along Clingoe Hill.

She said: “I don’t think the road is much different from when I was a 14-year-old girl, I’m 55 now, it is just as dangerous as it was back then.

“They may have put some lights on, or spent some money making it better, but it is just as rubbish as it ever was.

“It is a main road coming into the city, it shouldn’t be 50mph.

“Why is it 50mph coming into Colchester, you have a university right there, a crossing used by people.

Illustrative - Clingoe Hill in Colchester (Image: Google Maps)

“I think they need to bring the speed limit right down, and actually stop it happening, my son isn’t the first child to be killed on Clingoe Hill.

“We are now a city, it’s getting bigger and bigger by the day, there are more cars, more traffic.

“More speed cameras and bring the speed limit down.”

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: "The safety of all road users and residents remains the priority for Essex Highways, and we are committed to continually reviewing our network to identify where improvements can deliver the greatest benefit.

 “To achieve this, we closely monitor local data and police engagement to find clear patterns which may require road safety improvements.

"With enough evidence of recurring issues, we are able to put forward works for funding.

 "As a result of this process there are currently no plans to introduce any new safety measures or changes on Clingoe Hill, Colchester.

"However, the road will continue to be monitored and reviewed, and any emerging trends will be assessed as part of our ongoing road safety programme.”