Newly released photographs show a road riddled with potholes just days before a speeding car struck one and plunged into a river in Cambridgeshire, killing two teenagers. Cambridgeshire County Council had ordered repairs to 98 potholes along the road four days before the crash on 17 March, with work scheduled to start on 3 April.
The VW Polo, driven by 18-year-old Declan Berry, was travelling at about 90mph (145km/h) moments before it entered the River Nene on North Brink, near Wisbech, on 17 March. Berry and rear-seat passenger Eden Bunn, 16, died. Three other friends in the car escaped, the inquest heard last month.
The photographs, obtained by the BBC through the Freedom of Information Act, show the condition of the road when council officials visited. The council said repairs to that section of North Brink had been "scheduled in line with our normal maintenance processes and response times". The repair work was carried out on 20 March, while the road was closed after the fatal crash.
The inquest heard that one of the passengers asked Berry to "slow down" and that the driver replied: "We will be fine." The speed limit on that stretch of road is 60mph (96km/h).
A police report found that the driver's speed was "the most significant contributory factor" to the crash, but that the condition of the road and the presence of potholes also played a role. The inquest also heard that the council had received 127 complaints about the road's condition in the months before the crash, including reports of potholes, mud and debris. It is not known whether the pothole struck by Berry's car was among those photographed.
Cambridgeshire County Council said: "Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families and friends of Declan Berry and Eden Bunn and all of those affected. We are aware of the coroner's findings that the condition of the road more than minimally contributed to the collision. Safety is our primary concern. We carefully prioritise our maintenance resources across the 4,500km of our road network. The most urgent defects are made safe within two hours and fully repaired within five days."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The crash has put a spotlight on how Cambridgeshire County Council prioritises and schedules road repairs on its 4,500km network.
- The coroner's finding that the road condition contributed to the collision could influence maintenance policy and future liability.
- It raises broader questions about the balance between driver responsibility and road safety in fatal crash inquiries.
Background
On 17 March, a VW Polo carrying five friends left North Brink near Wisbech and entered the River Nene. Declan Berry, the 18-year-old driver, and 16-year-old passenger Eden Bunn died; three others survived. The inquest last month examined the evidence, including photographs taken by council officials days before the crash that showed the road riddled with potholes.
Cambridgeshire County Council maintains the county's road network and had ordered repairs to 98 potholes along the road four days before the crash, with the work initially scheduled for 3 April. The road was closed after the crash and the repairs were carried out on 20 March.
Key Perspectives
- Police report: found that the driver's speed, about 90mph in a 60mph zone, was "the most significant contributory factor" to the crash, with the road's condition and potholes also playing a role.
- Coroner: found that the condition of the road more than minimally contributed to the collision.
- Passenger in the car: told the inquest he had asked Berry to "slow down" and that Berry replied: "We will be fine."
- Cambridgeshire County Council: said the repairs were "scheduled in line with our normal maintenance processes and response times", that safety is its primary concern, and that the most urgent defects are made safe within two hours and fully repaired within five days.
What to Watch
- Whether the inquest's findings lead to formal recommendations on how the county prioritises pothole repairs.
- Whether Cambridgeshire County Council changes its maintenance response times after the coroner's finding.
- How the council responds to the 127 complaints about the road's condition logged in the months before the crash.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedA passenger asked Berry to “slow down”, and Berry replied, “We will be fine.”BBC News: “One of the passengers told the hearing he had asked Berry to "slow down", but the driver replied: "We will be fine."”
- SupportedThe council said repairs had been “scheduled in line with our normal maintenance processes and response times”.BBC News: “The authority said repairs to that section of North Brink had been "scheduled in line with our normal maintenance processes and response times".”
- SupportedPhotographs showed potholes on the road days before the fatal crash.BBC News: “Newly released photographs show a road riddled with potholes just days before a speeding car struck one and plunged into a river, killing two teenagers.”
- SupportedThe council ordered repairs to 98 potholes four days before the crash, with work scheduled to start on 3 April.BBC News: “Four days earlier, Cambridgeshire County Council had ordered repairs to 98 potholes along the road, with the work scheduled to start on 3 April.”
- SupportedOn 17 March, the car struck a pothole and plunged into the River Nene, killing two teenagers.BBC News: “A VW Polo driven by Declan Berry was travelling at about 90mph (145km/h) moments before it entered the River Nene on North Brink, near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, on 17 March, killing him and one of his passengers.”
- SupportedThe crash happened on North Brink, near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.BBC News: “A VW Polo driven by Declan Berry was travelling at about 90mph (145km/h) moments before it entered the River Nene on North Brink, near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, on 17 March”
- SupportedBerry was travelling at about 90mph (145km/h) shortly before the car entered the river.BBC News: “A VW Polo driven by Declan Berry was travelling at about 90mph (145km/h) moments before it entered the River Nene”
- SupportedThe driver, Declan Berry, was 18.BBC News: “The body of Berry, who was 18, was recovered from the river two weeks later.”
- SupportedRear-seat passenger Eden Bunn, 16, died.BBC News: “An inquest last month heard that three other passengers escaped from the car, but that 16-year-old Eden Bunn died from a head injury.”
- SupportedThree other passengers escaped from the car, as the inquest heard last month.BBC News: “An inquest last month heard that three other passengers escaped from the car”
- SupportedA police report identified the driver's speed as the most significant contributory factor, while saying the road condition and potholes also played a role.BBC News: “A police report found the driver's speed was "the most significant contributory factor" to the crash, but that the condition of the road and presence of potholes also played a role.”
- SupportedThe council had received 127 complaints about the road in the months before the crash, including reports of potholes, mud and debris.BBC News: “The court heard the council had received 127 complaints about the road's condition in the months before the crash, including reports of potholes, mud and debris on the carriageway.”