A HORROR smash on the M6 has left a 20-year-old Barrow man dead and his three younger brothers seriously injured.
Pierce Armstrong was killed in the accident while Cavan, aged four, 13-year-old Hayden and Hal, 17, are all seriously ill in hospital.
The crash happened on the M6 yesterday when a HGV swerved and smashed into two cars - one containing six members of the Armstrong family from Abbey Road, Barrow.
Former Chetwynde School pupil Pierce was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hayden and Cavan were airlifted to hospital in Middlesbrough.
Cavan has now been transferred to a pediatric high dependency unit in Newcastle and said to be in a “critical condition.”
Hal is also fighting for his life in James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.
Hayden is at Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, and his condition is described as “stable.”
They are all being treated for serious head injuries.
The three younger boys are also pupils at Chetwynde School, Abbey Road, Barrow.
All four were passengers in a Mitsubishi Shogun, which was being driven by their father, the well-known former Holker Old Boys football player, Ray Armstrong, on the M6 south of Penrith.
Mr Armstrong, 47, received minor injuries and is now at his son, Hal’s bedside in Middlesborough.
Their mother, Jayne, 46, who is originally from Dalton, was also taken to hospital in Carlisle with serious injuries and was due to be operated on today.
Two helimed doctors from the Great North Air Ambulance were able to give potentially life-saving treatment to the two young boys at the scene.
Public relations officer for the GNAA, Sarah Booth, said: “The two doctors dealt with a four-year-old and nine-year-old who were both incubated, which means they were anaesthetized, so the doctors could give advanced medical care at the scene.
“This is seen as the gold standard of care.
“They were suffering from multiple injuries but we mainly focused on their head injuries. One little boy was also ventilated.
“In such a severe accident they’ve been given the best possible care. This is why we carry doctors. Last night, hopefully, it all came together.”
The crash happened at 5.34pm on the south bound carriageway between junctions 39 and 40, in an area known as Winter Tarn.
Several other people, including the occupant of a Ford Fiesta and the HGV driver, suffered injuries, none of which are life-threatening.
Paramedics from Carlisle, Keswick, Penrith and Kendal attended, assisted by two BASICS doctors - GPs trained in emergency life support to work alongside paramedics. The last ambulance left the scene at 8.23pm.
The M6, which was closed for eight hours following the incident, reopened in the early hours of today.
Barrow Raiders chief executive Des Johnston, who has known the couple for 30 years, said the family had been to a christening in Ray Armstrong’s native Belfast.
Mr Johnston said: “It’s a total tragedy, unbelievable. Ray and Jayne have lost their eldest son and two of their other sons are still in a bad way.
“You’d have to go a long way to meet more well-mannered young men than those boys.
“Pierce was a wonderful, well-mannered young man and a credit to both of them.
“All Ray’s friends are doing everything we can at the moment. Ray’s friends, Billy Oxley and John Goodwin have gone up to Carlisle to be with them.
“But we’re all in a state of shock. I feel sick inside. There are grown men crying at this news. Our thoughts are with Ray and Jayne.”
Mr Armstrong is managing director of the PKA Company, based at Sowerby Woods Business Park, Scarth Road, Barrow, which supplies valves, pipes and steam products to industry. Mrs Armstrong is the company secretary and Pierce also worked there. Mr Armstrong and former Barrow Island Rugby League player Mr Oxley were also partners in R & B properties.
An inquest was opened and adjourned this morning in Carlisle.
Mr Armstrong confirmed he had identified the body of his son.
-
http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=481175
