'My sister would still be alive if they had acted on pledge to make A12 blackspot safer'

 
Victim: Jothini Sriskandapalan, seen with son Ajeshan, died on the A12 by Newbury Park
Emer Martin21 May 2013

The family of a young mother killed at an accident blackspot today demanded action to improve safety at the notorious junction.

Jothini Sriskandapalan, 29, died after her car collided with another vehicle on the A12 outside Newbury Park Tube station last Monday as she attempted to turn right across a lane of traffic.

Last year, Boris Johnson said new traffic lights would be installed at the junction by October 2013. He also pledged to implement “other measures” in the meantime. Transport for London (TfL) has “explored” possibilities but so far nothing has been changed.

Today Ms Sriskandapalan’s family, from Lewisham, said urgent steps were needed to prevent further tragedies.

Brother Prakash, 26, said: “There is a promise to install lights but so far nothing has been done. If safety had been sorted out my sister wouldn’t be dead. She was the second person to die there in less than three years.

“If it was known that this was a dangerous spot and a decision to improve it had been made, and they didn’t act on it quickly, we have to talk about that. We lost our wonderful sister because of this. She died for nothing. We’re angry this could have been prevented.”

Mr Johnson made his statement in response to a City Hall question time request by Roger Evans, London Assembly member for Havering and Redbridge. It followed reports of numerous accidents at the turning. In one case on New Year’s Day 2011, Dusan Danilovic, 69, died in a pile-up.

Ms Sriskandapalan, an estate agent, lived in Ilford with husband Raj Kumar and son Ajeshan, two. Her sister, Nevetha, 22, said: “She went to pick up her husband from the station after work. We’ve been told the other driver had no drink or drugs in his system.

“My sister was a safe driver. Something went terribly wrong.” Ms Sriskandapalan’s red Vauxhall Corsa collided with a silver BMW at about 11pm. Paramedics could not save her and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Police believe she had been travelling westbound and was turning across the eastbound carriageway.

The BMW driver, 23, suffered minor injuries. He was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and bailed until next month. Nevetha said her sister was a “bubbly, happy person ... [she] was very popular and totally devoted to her son. She lived for him. She was a brilliant mother.”

Her mother Jayaluxmy, 54, said: “She was a strong, wonderful woman, I am devastated I will never see her again.”

Redbridge borough councillor Debbie Kaur-Thiara urged Mr Johnson to act immediately: “We should not have to wait for months on end to see some action.” A spokesman for the Mayor said: “The Mayor’s sympathies go out to the family and friends of the lady who died. He has directed Transport for London to make urgent improvements to that junction.

“Traffic modelling is under way. Work to complete the im-provements will commence in August and is expected to be finished by the autumn.”

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