A LYDNEY couple were airlifted to hospital and a student escaped with minor injuries in two incidents just 24 hours apart on the A48 near Blakeney.

The stretch between Blakeney and Newnham was closed for 20 hours following the accident on Saturday involving the couple, who have been named locally as Norman and Jean Sterry.

The accidents have led to further calls for the safety of the road to be reassessed.

Lydney student Jordan Key says he plans to claim against the Highways Agency after his car hit oil and lost control on Spark’s Hill, between Newnham and Blakeney, last Friday morning (August 19).

The 21-year-old, who is training to become a primary school teacher, was travelling from his home in Lydney to the University of Nottingham when it happened.

In a Facebook comment posted on the day the second accident happened, he said:

“This road needs sorting as soon as possible. I had an accident on the same stretch of road yesterday after oil was left on the road which I span on.

“Luckily, despite being hit by an oncoming van, I came away lightly with only damaged shoulder tissue, concussion and whiplash. But I am still going to claim against Highways Agency.”

Gloucestershire County Council said it couldn’t comment on the situation while police investigations were underway.

Mr Key told the Review: “I was driving cautiously as it was raining heavily. Before I knew it I had hit oil causing my car to spin sideways into an oncoming van. My issue with Highways is oil on the road constitutes a dangerous surface. The paramedics even said I could claim from Highways for my injuries.

“My car is a write-off and I am in the process of seeing what comes from my insurance claim before I pursue the Highways Agency. Fortunately nobody was in my car at the time. I dread to think what could have happened had the van come into my driver’s door.”

The same stretch of the road was shut for almost 20 hours on Saturday afternoon while the Highways Agency investigated the second accident.

Mr and Mrs Sterry were airlifted to Southmead Hospital with life-threatening injuries. There was also a baby in the couple’s Citroen Xsara Picasso who was uninjured.

The other vehicle involved – a Vauxhall Corsa occupied with two men in their 20s – was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital with serious leg injuries.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police said: “The road was closed by Highways and was still shut at 11pm.”

Anyone who witnessed the collision should call police on 101 quoting incident 330 of August 20.

Scott Tompkins, lead commissioner for the county highways authority, said: “The county council is responsible for almost 3,500 miles of road which we regularly inspect, however if any member of the public spots something that needs attention, they should report it as soon as it is safe to do so.”

The area’s county councillor Richard Leppington (UKIP, Blakeney and Bream) said: “I have had numerous complaints about the road in that area and I have asked Highways to investigate.”