Memorial to car crash PC

Jun 28 2008 by Ben Guy, The Journal

A SECTION of a Northumberland dual carriageway will be shut on Sunday morning as a memorial to a police officer killed in a car accident is unveiled.

Part of the A69 eastbound carriageway will be closed between Stagshaw and Styford from 9am to 10.30am as the Police Memorial Trust unveils the tribute to PC Joe Carroll.

The Bellingham-based officer was killed in a crash caused by a prisoner he was transporting in April 2006. When the closure is in place, traffic travelling eastbound from the Carlisle/Haltwhistle/Hexham direction will diverted at Stagshaw to the B6318 Military Road to travel eastbound to rejoin the A69 at Heddon-on-the-Wall. Traffic travelling north on the A68 from Darlington/Consett wishing to go towards Newcastle will be diverted at Styford, westbound to Stagshaw and then to the Military Road on towards Heddon-on-the-Wall. The westbound carriageway will not be affected.

Highways Agency route manager Peter Morris, said: “This closure is to accommodate the Police Memorial Trust and offer a safe site for the unveiling of the memorial to PC Joe Carroll to take place.

“Traffic levels on a Sunday are normally much reduced and the number of heavy vehicles is also low.

“We ask residents and road users to be patient while the closure and the diversion are in place.”