Dad's anger as pole hit by Hannah Lodge in fatal B1249 crash put back up
THE father of a young woman killed in a car crash has spoken of his anger at learning the pole she hit has been reinstalled.
Hannah Lodge, 18, died after her car hit the weather monitoring pole on the B1249.
The pole has now been put back in exactly the same spot by East Riding Council – and daubed with graffiti saying "no respect" and "I am a killer".
Hannah's father Mark, 52, said he was appalled to hear the station had been put back. He said: "We were aware the weather station was put back and it seems fairly grotesque.
"To put that thing back does seem incredibly cruel and insensitive.
"We would have thought it would have been sensible to run it by the police, or even the family."
Mr Lodge said he did not agree with the graffiti but could understand the motivation for whoever was behind it.
He said: "I can't, and won't, condone any kind of graffiti but I can understand why somebody might have felt moved to do what they've done.
"Hannah was such an incredibly popular and well-loved individual.
"It's almost as if an 18-year-old innocent child is collateral damage and the authorities are prepared to accept that."
Hannah had just begun a gap year when her grey Suzuki left the road as she drove towards Langtoft on Friday, November 16.
She had left Driffield School with ten good GCSEs and three A levels and had hoped to study law at university.
Hannah was also in the process of applying for a short-term role with a Scarborough charity, helping vulnerable people to better understand their legal rights.
On the day of the crash, she was driving to the charity's office to drop off some paperwork.
Her family have been to the spot where she lost her life.
But Mr Lodge said it is still hard to drive past.
He said: "It's a difficult road to drive up.
"You stand at the spot and wonder how on earth it happened."
Mr Lodge said government statistics suggest there is a crash at the same point every year.
He believes the B1249 is a dangerous road.
Mr Lodge said: "Statistically, there will be another accident at that point, involving that pole or that weather station.
"There's at least one reported accident per year at that spot.
Work to reinstall the weather station began on Tuesday, February 19.
John Skidmore, head of streetscene services at East Riding Council, said: "The weather station on the B1249 was damaged in a road traffic accident last year.
"The council made efforts to contact the family through a police liaison officer to discuss the replacement weather station but so far has not been made aware of any objections.
"The council is sensitive to the replacement weather station and remains happy to discuss the matter with the family."
Police believe the graffiti was sprayed between 4pm on Sunday, March 3, and 7.40am on Monday, March 4.
Anyone with information should call Humberside Police on 101.
28 Comments
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by NeilTheasby
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 8:13AM
“I am sure that all decent people's hearts will go out to Hannah's father and the rest of her family but I cannot see what the "issue" is with replacing the weather station pole. It was knocked down so of course it needed replacing. If a careless driver knocks a wall down should that wall be left in ruins? It just doesn't make sense.”
by thesnooper
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 10:39PM
“as tragic as this is the pole was not at fault, there are plenty of obstacles along the road sides and if they get damaged they are replaced.
thousands and thousands of people drive past these things without incident on a daily basis”
by dannydarko222
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 10:16PM
“Put a sharpened spike on the cabinet & get all the litter chucked against the fence out in a skip,”
by Col18
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 7:45PM
“Roads, unless theres a ten foot hole in the middle arent dangerous-driving, and drivers,are dangerous. Its always a difficult truism to state when lives are lost,but a fact nevertheless.The pole is an inanimate object-the car struck it, not the other way round.And if theres a crash every year,then theres a year-round problem with the standard of driving and care on the roads.”
by noseyparker87
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 5:19PM
“Surely the graffiti is going to up the chance of more accidents happening by distracting others?
I'm really very sorry that this young girl lost her life, but, Unless the pole jumped out in front of her car, It wasn't the poles' fault.”
by Hully
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 4:52PM
“Very sad, however as many are saying, this pole was there, it didn't leap out and cause the accident, it was a fixed point.
As I've said in prior posts where the elements are
1 lone driver
1 road
+ accident ='s 99.9999999r% driver error
Not the pole or the roads fault. Even if weather was a factor that still equates to driver error for not compensating for it.
Sad loss as I've said and my view is my view, not meant to cause distress or upset to the girls family. If that is the case then please ask for the post to be removed”
by JayOnly
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 4:41PM
“I can't see the problem...very sad of course but,...well, anyway, I thought these sort of things were meant to snap or collapse if hit by a vehicle”
by AdPotentia
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 3:38PM
“The weather station is there to allow the highways department to know when to grit the roads - to prevent further accidents - who ever did this presumably wants this unfortunate accident to be remembered by causing more deaths.
This isn't an act of protest, if another accident happens here it will be rubberneckers being distracted and the fault of the stupid idiotic vandal.”
by HCAFCscarb
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 3:31PM
“Horrible thing to have happened .
This Article is pointless and will cause more upset to girls Family and friends”
by pietro_crespi
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 3:05PM
“What is the betting that an accident is now caused by people being distracted by reading the writing on the post and box?”