THE widow of a rider killed in Suffolk today made an impassioned plea for other drivers to cut their speed.

Laurence Cawley

THE widow of a rider killed in Suffolk today made an impassioned plea for other drivers to cut their speed.

Pauline McCune's husband Joseph (Jo-Jo) was killed on the A134 at Leavenheath in 2006 after he was in collision with an oncoming van.

Mr McCune, who was riding on a motorbike to a funeral at the time, was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Sunday, Mrs McCune, who lives in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, will be returning to the crash site in remembrance of her husband.

She will also be meeting the roads policing officers who investigated the collision and helped her at the time, to say thank you and to make a donation to charity.

Speaking before her visit, Mrs McCune said: “If people stuck to the limits and thought about the possibilities of what might happen on country roads, more deaths and serious injuries might be prevented.

“Jo-Jo was 43, he'd just had his birthday and it had been our wedding anniversary earlier in the month. He was on his way to his auntie's funeral, he wasn't speeding but was going too quick when it was raining hard.

“Drivers should expect the unexpected - I wish people would just slow down. I'm now more aware than ever of speed. Jo-Jo's death has left me devastated, and my life will never be the same again.

“What happened that day I have to live with every day, the pain never goes away, so while people are reading this they should think what it would do to their loved ones if they were suddenly gone because of road conditions and speed. I watch people speeding and think if only you knew what pain you may leave behind.”

Acting Sgt Phil Barrett was Mrs McCune's family liaison officer, and Pc Andrew Fossey was the Roads Policing Officer who attended the collision.

Mrs McCune said: “They were so caring and considerate, it was unreal. PC Barrett was there whenever I needed him, like a friend - he was always at the end of a phone and did everything he could to help both me and my family. PC Fossey was at the scene with Jo-Jo.

“I couldn't have got through this without their help, they were both on first name terms with my family and provided all the support we could have hoped for.”

Mrs McCune will be travelling down from her home in Bridlington with a friend on Saturday, meeting up with the officers before visiting Leavenheath on Sunday to place a plaque by the side of the road. She continues, “The plaque is surrounded with orange and white flowers, the same colours as Jo-Jo's bike.

“I need to go to the scene, and I will continue to visit as that's where it all came to an end,” Mrs McCune said. “I am giving a cheque to PC Barrett and PC Fossey to give to charity, to commemorate Jo-Jo being here.”