Four dead, ten arrested after week of fatal incidents on Lancashire roads

PLUS: Shades of Covid as lessons at one Lancashire school to be delivered from 300 miles away

Hello and welcome to the Lancashire Lead.

Four people have been killed in incidents on Lancashire roads in the last week.

While it’s important to make it very clear the incidents are not connected and are being investigated separately by police, it means that a number of families are mourning the loss of loved ones after incidents that happened exclusively at night time.

Two of those who died were pedestrians while another was a passenger in a taxi.

Investigation work from police has led to the arrest of 10 people, with death by dangerous driving the commonality between the three incidents.

We also report on the decision of one well-thought of academy group to hold top set maths lessons virtually - via a teacher 300 miles away in Devon.

Strike action is a feasible consequence of the decision.

Investigations ongoing after three fatal incidents on Lancashire roads inside a week

By Luke Beardsworth

There have been three high-profile fatal incidents on the Lancashire roads in the last week.

A total of four people have died and a number of people arrested after the incidents in Morecambe, Clayton-le-Woods and Crawshawbooth in Rossendale.

The incidents come as police launch their summer campaign urging people to report people driving under the influence of drink or drugs. Police suspect at least some of these incidents may be examples of that.

The passenger in a taxi in Morecambe was killed in an incident shortly before 6am on Sunday morning (10 August).

The man, in his 50s, was taken to hospital where he was confirmed to have died. The crash was between a black Fiat Punto and the white Ford Mondeo taxi.

Two people have been arrested. A 22-year-old man from Morecambe has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and driving with excess drugs, and causing death whilst disqualified, while a 31-year-old man from Morecambe has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Jez Shepherd, 22, of Green Street in Morecambe, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing death while driving while disqualified, causing death while driving while uninsured, taking without consent and causing death, burglary dwelling theft, making off without payment, driving while disqualified and driving with no insurance.

In Clayton-le-Woods, police were called to the scene of a crash on Thursday evening (7 August).

A motorbike was involved in a collision with two pedestrians on Preston Road close to the junction with Cloverfield.

The driver of the bike and one of the pedestrians were confirmed to have died in the incident.

The pedestrian has now been identified as Lydon Wright, 68, who leaves behind his wife Carol and his son James.

Three men, who were present in the area at the time of the collision: age 53, from Whittle-le-Woods, 57 from Middlewich and 46 from Congleton, were all arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. They have since been released under investigation pending further enquiries.

A statement from Lyndon’s family said: “Lyndon Wright, passed away suddenly on 8th August 2025 following a road traffic collision.

“He was a devoted husband and loving father, who leaves behind his wife, Carol, his son, James, and many dear friends and family who will miss him deeply."

And five people were arrested after a pedestrian was killed crossing the road in Crawshawbooth in Rossendale.

Police were called to the scene of the crash on Burnley Road at 10.06pm on Friday (8 August) after reports that a Toyota Hilux Invincible had collided with a pedestrian while he crossed the road.

The man, in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

An 18-year-old man from Rawtenstall has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Two 19-year-old men from Waterfoot, a 14-year-old boy from Waterfoot, and an 18-year-old man from Bacup have all been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving while impaired through drink or drugs.

Investigations into all three incidents are ongoing.

John Jennings-Wharton, chief inspector of Lancashire Constabulary, said: “Sadly over the last week, Lancashire has seen a number of serious and fatal collisions across the force.

“Some of these collisions, we suspect, and are being investigated, for being caused by people driving whilst impaired through drink or drugs.

“Firstly, what I want to say is my thoughts go out to each and every family affected by these tragedies.

“Since the launched of our Summer Drink and Drug Dive campaign, Lancashire has arrested 87 people for impaired driving. That’s an increase of 20% on the same period last year.

“This is clear evidence that there are people willing to take chances and make informed decisions to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and drive whilst impaired. This is not acceptable.

“What I want you to do is look at yourself in the mirror. What are you doing to help reduce the risk of people being killed or seriously injured on our roads?

“We need your assistance. We will act on intelligence and we will stop people at check sites.”

Police said that if you know someone who drives under the influence of drink or drugs, please call 101 to report them. If you are witnessing a crime in action, always call 999.

If you can assist police with the Morecambe incident, please contact 101 or email SCIU@lancashire.police.uk quoting log 0270 of 10 August.

If you can assist police with the Clayton-le-Woods incident, please contact 101 or email SCIU@lancashire.police.uk quoting log 1510 of 7 August.

If you can assist police with the Rossendale incident, please contact 101 or email SCIU@lancashire.police.uk quoting log 1474 of 8 August.

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A row has broken out over whether plans for a Lancashire school to teach some of its students maths using a teacher in Devon amount to a return to the remote learning of the Covid lockdown era.