Family in emotional appeal after crash

By Danielle Nuttall

A FAMILY has made a tearful appeal for answers following the death of a young mother in an horrific road crash.

Deborah Irwin, 28, was killed on March 21 when the Fiat Bravo she was driving swerved through the central barrier of the A14 at Levington, overturning onto its roof on the opposite side of the carriageway.

Her three-year-old son, Matteo, who was a passenger in the vehicle, miraculously survived without serious injury.

Mystery still surrounds the circumstances of the crash and efforts to trace the drivers of a light-coloured box van and a blue VW Golf, who were seen on the A14 at the time of the collision, have so far failed.

Officers still believe the drivers of these vehicles could hold vital information about the crash, which could provide the breakthrough they need in establishing the cause of mother-of-two Miss Irwin's death.

Yesterday, at Suffolk Constabulary's headquarters in Martlesham, Miss Irwin's grandmother, Jessie Smith, mother Sheena Simpson and sister Gemma Irwin made an emotional plea for the drivers to contact police.

Ms Simpson said: “I know these appeals go out every day of the week and it's always heart rendering, but when it happens to you the pain is immeasurable.

“Deborah was my daughter and she was a lovely lady. Deborah's daughter has just turned six and is doing not too bad but there will be times when her mummy will not be there and no-one can take her mummy's place. That will be so sad.

“It's all the things that they will never get to experience with their mummy. It shouldn't be that way. Every little boy or girl needs their mummy no matter what their age.

“Deborah was a good driver. It was maybe just an accident but come forward and give information, that's all we want.”

The cream coloured box van, possibly a Luton or similar, was seen in a stationary position on the westbound carriageway of the A14 at the end of the Levington slip road shortly after the collision.

It was seen parked here for around 30 seconds to a minute after the crash but then drove off. It is thought the vehicle had dark beige or brown writing on the side.

Officers urgently need to trace the driver of the vehicle and are appealing for him or her to contact them. They are also urging the driver of a blue Mark One or Mark Two VW Golf car with round headlights, which was seen in the area close to the van at the time of the accident, to come forward.

Deborah, of Glemham Drive, Rushmere St Andrew, near Ipswich, was born in Great Yarmouth but moved to Acton, near Sudbury, at the age of four. She spent most of her life in Ipswich, attending Copleston High School.

“She had a huge heart. She doesn't deserve this. She was only young with a young family. We were going for a holiday in Italy in June. Obviously that is cancelled now,” said Ms Simpson.

“I wanted to take everyone away on a plane and it will not be the same. She was much too young to die.”

Miss Irwin's son and daughter, Lucia, are being cared for by her partner, Alberto Lesina.

“He (Matteo) remembers everything. His sister tells him mummy has gone to heaven. He seems to be dealing with it ok at the moment,” Mr Lesina told the media.

Ms Simpson added: “The little boy, thank goodness, was safe. He was in the car with my daughter and saw everything. He has flashbacks.”

She said the family were planning to create memory boxes with photographs and clothes so that the children could remember their mother when they get older.

Pc Colin Gray said: “We are directly appealing to the drivers of these vehicles and friends and family who may have been told about this incident to get in touch.

“We need to speak to you about events leading up to this tragic collision in order to be able to give Deborah's family an accurate picture of what occurred that day.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Pc Ben Coombes at force headquarters roads policing unit on 01473 613500.

danielle.nuttall@eadt.co.uk