At about 10pm on 23rd December 1998, Emerson Welch, from Stratford, was driving south along the Bidford to Honeybourne road when a vehicle travelling east to west on the Welford Road crashed into the side of his car.

It took an hour for Emerson to be cut free from the wreckage of his car, and paramedics told his family he had a lucky escape with leg injuries. He spent that Christmas in hospital.

Expressing his condolences to the teenager’s family, Emerson said: “I was lucky to get out. Anything people decide to do I would support 100 per cent. If there’s a petition, I’ll sign it.

“It’s a horrible junction. The signage and visibility, and coming up to the junction is bad. Blatantly something needs to be done and should have been done 20 years ago. During the evening the visibility is just not good enough.”

He compared it to the Fosse Way, where the crossroads were also dangerous. Using the staggered crossroads near Ettington as one example, he said that it was now well illuminated and had huge road signs warning motorists about the junction. “This is the kind of thing that needs to happen at the crossroads on Honeybourne Road,” he said. “It needs simple signage and to be better lit. It does not cost the earth just to save lives.”

The trauma from the crash still affects Emerson and he gets nervous on the approach to the junction. Ten years ago he was in the car with his ten-week-old daughter and the baby’s mother, Steph Considine, when he was involved in a second crash at the same junction. The baby was sick and Steph suffered bruising, but thankfully they were fine.

Steph added: “How many more, before they alter this road and put in correct signage, which is practically non existent, lighting and chevrons. It’s a really busy, fast road and although this is a rough time for the family I really hope they petition to get something done.”

Any witnesses who saw either vehicle prior to the collision on 22nd December, or who witnessed the crash have been asked to call PC Wayne Knight on 01926 415415.