Police crash memorial unveiled after 46 years

West Yorkshire Police and Wakefield Council representatives unveil the memorial to the Newton Hill coach crash victims

A permanent memorial to five police officers killed in a coach crash in Wakefield nearly 50 years ago has been unveiled.

The officers died when the vehicle they were travelling in overturned at Newton Hill roundabout in 1978.

Another 23 people were injured in the tragedy, which happened as they were travelling to a conference.

A dedication ceremony was held near to the crash scene on Wednesday to mark the 46th anniversary.

PC David Bulleyment, 31, PC Eric Renshaw, 45, PC Colin Ross, 33, PC Lillian Sullivan, 41, and Sgt Elizabeth Burton, 40, all died in the May accident.

An inquest later concluded that the coach's brakes had failed as it travelled to the Police Federation conference in Blackpool.

A minute’s silence was also observed by relatives and friends of the officers, political leaders and West Yorkshire Police’s chief constable at the dedication.

The leader of Wakefield Council, Denise Jeffery, witnessed the crash as a teenager and has "never forgotten" the events of that day.

'Terrible tragedy'

The council sited the memorial following a £9.7m redevelopment of the roundabout and the A650 Leeds Road.

It came after a six-year campaign for a permanent tribute by resident Paul Fixter.

Ms Jeffery said: “Every time I come around this roundabout I think about that day because I did witness the accident.

“I was walking up to my parents' house and saw it all. I have never forgotten it.

“It’s taken a long time but, my goodness, it should not be forgotten. It was a terrible tragedy.

“It was a terrible loss of young lives.”

Andy Sullivan attended the event to remember him mother, Lillian, a constable who was 41 when she lost her life.

Andy, who was 13 at the time, said: “It has taken a long time to get something like this put in place but I think it is a fitting tribute.

“The incident changed the lives of many people.

“I take my hat off to Paul Fixter, in particular, for his work raising awareness locally.”

Mr Fixter, a former police staff member, started the campaign after he became concerned that the crash had been forgotten in the city.

He said: “It’s great that this has come to fruition.

“On the 40th anniversary of the tragedy in 2018 I spoke to some of my neighbours and they were not aware of it.

“We don’t want it to be forgotten.”