Northants road safety truck named after crash victim

The road safety truck has been named "Julie May" in honour of Julie Bunkall, who was killed in a crash in 2013

A new truck used for road safety education has been named in honour of a woman who died in a car crash.

Julie Bunkall was killed in 2013 on the A6 near Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire.

Her daughter Emilie, who is a roads policing officer, said the family was "totally blown away" by the tribute to her mother.

The lorry will tour schools with PC Bunkall and two workers from a DIY chain to deliver road safety lessons.

Ms Bunkall was 70 when she died in a head-on crash in June 2013.

An inquest heard the other driver was likely to have suffered a blackout of some kind.

'Strength to continue'

At the time, PC Bunkall thought she would be unable to carry on in her role, but her mother's support changed her mind.

"She was incredibly proud of my traffic role, and this gave me the strength to continue and play my part in striving to improve road safety," she said.

PC Emilie Bunkall lost her mother Julie in a collision in Burton Latimer in 2013

She has been touring primary schools with Paul Owen and Lee Millard of Wickes, giving the children the opportunity to look around an HGV cab and learn about the importance of staying safe near such vehicles.

"The last 10 years has been a difficult journey for the whole family, a journey we are still very much on, but when Paul and Lee approached us about the idea of naming their new truck after mum, we were just totally blown away," she said.

"We have all been truly touched by such a kind gesture, and have shed a few tears."

She said her mother would have been "honoured" by the move.