THE daughter of a former York teacher who died when a van veered through a gap in a dual carriageway barrier and crashed into her car has told of her relief that the gap is now being closed.

Katy Rose, whose family launched a petition calling for the gap in the A19 central reservation barrier to be shut following her mother Sonia Rose’s tragic death in 2016, said its closure now by Highways England was proof that ‘people power does work.’

She said: “As a family, we are extremely relieved that this particular gap has now been closed and that the same tragedy can never happen to anyone else.

“If the closure of that gap saves just one life, then we will have made a difference in mum’s name.”

An inquest in 2017 heard that Mrs Rose, 83, a former Fulford School teacher, died of multiple injuries after a van travelling south hit the central reservation barrier, causing it to tip on to two wheels and pass through a gap into the northbound carriageway near Northallerton.

Coroner Michael Oakley said he was concerned by the multitude of crossing points and called for the Department for Transport to consider very quickly the closure of many if not all of the gaps.

Katy, from near Thirsk, said the family’s petition, called #savelivesA19, collected 3,375 signatures and said it was outrageous that every day people risked lives while using the ‘essential and very busy road.’

She thanked everyone who signed it and Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake for his help, along with Highways England ‘for listening.’

“However we are only too aware that there are still many improvements to be made,” she said. “We recognise this is just the start.”

“Mum was a proud Northerner and very vocal about the imbalance of funding between the North and the South East so this is something that would have really pleased her no end. She is still very much missed by family and friends but we can all take some comfort from this news.”

Highways England project manager Ben Dobson said: “The safety of drivers on the A19 is of the highest importance and we continually look at any safety improvements we can make.”