People are being invited to a vigil to celebrate the lives of two Southport friends who tragically lost their lives in a road traffic accident 12 months ago.
Marie Cunningham, 79 and Grace Foulds, 85, died after being struck by a vehicle on Lulworth Road in Birkdale on Tuesday, 30th November 2021.
Members of their family have been campaigning ever since for urgent safety measures to be introduced along Lulworth Road to prevent any future accidents from happening, saying they will “never stop” until they have secured changes needed.
A vigil in their memory will be held at 4.15pm on Wednesday, 30th November 2022, at the spot on Lulworth Road where the tragedy happened.
Father Atli Jonsson, from St Joseph’s Church on York Road in Birkdale, will be leading the vigil.
An investigation by Merseyside Police is ongoing.
Marie Cunningham’s daughter, Lynnie Cunningham, said: “Father Jonsson will hold prayers and a minute’s silence for Mum, and for Grace on the spot on Lulworth Road where the tragedy happened.
“I can’t believe it is 12 months ago now since they were gone.
“The police are still investigating exactly what happened. They are being extremely thorough, which we are very pleased with.
“We have asked Sefton Council to install new safety measures on Lulworth Road to prevent anything like this from ever happening again.
“Lulworth Road is a very long, straight road, and there is nowhere safe to cross between Lord Street West and Hillside, a couple of miles away.
“There are a lot of elderly people in this area and we really need a zebra crossing here urgently.
“Over 5,000 people have signed our petition calling for new safety measures – even a traffic island or two would help.
“We are not giving up. We are not letting go. We will keep campaigning.
“We have had mums whose children attend the local nursery contact us, saying they are terrified crossing the road while pushing their prams and holding their little ones’ hands. Sometimes the cars on there drive so fast.
“We would love to see as many people as possible join us at the vigil.
“It will be at 4.15pm on Wednesday 30th November 2022 at the roadside outside Clairville with Father Jonsson leading prayers and holding a minute’s silence at 4.35pm in memory of Mum and Grace the time the crash happened.
“All are welcome.”
Enquiries into the collision are ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to call our Matrix Roads Policing Unit on (0151) 777 5747, email SCIU@merseyside.police.uk, or DM @MerPolCC on Twitter quoting reference 21000831536.
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