Man killed on North Yorkshire road he campaigned to make safer
"John was one of those people who once you met him, you didn't forget him. When he walked into a room everybody knew straight away he was there."He was a brilliant man and loyal friend."Mr Duggan was joining the A19 northbound at Riccall from the York Road junction when his Nissan Juke collided with a truck.The driver, a 42-year-old man from York, was arrested at the scene and was assisting officers with enquiries, according to North Yorkshire Police.As a parish councillor for Riccall, Mr Duggan had petitioned for changes to the layout of the A19 through the village as far back as 2007 and had called for a roundabout to be built.He told the York Press newspaper in August that year that a junction on the road had been the site of numerous accidents and two fatalities.He said: "The stretch of the A19 that runs past Riccall is one of the fastest sections of the road, and the speed of traffic using this section is totally unacceptable to local people who are trying to enter and exit the village."Ms Duckett said, despite his death occurring on the next junction along to the one Mr Duggan had raised concerns about in the past, the road remained a concern."That road is tremendously busy and every year traffic just seems to multiply," she said."At one point there was money for the roundabout and it was never built and the cost now is just in the millions to do the same project."I honestly don't think it's every going to get done."Mr Duggan was elected to the Riccall ward of Selby Council with the Labour party in 2019.In 2022 he stood for Camblesforth and Carlton in the North Yorkshire Council local election but lost to Conservative councillor Mike Jordan.
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A catch up with a friend, that's all. She was such a good friend, she'd been non-stop checking in throughout the day - but couldn't ring me until she finished work. 'We were on the phone and then it froze on Stephanie's face, and the call cut out.' Three pedestrians injured by falling rubble as van crashes through multi-storey car park wall in UK city centre She added: 'I then rang her personal phone. I also rang Ivan's phone, both were disconnected and were being put through to voicemail.' Ebony said she waited 20 minutes and was 'still ringing during this time… just to try and find out what had happened'. She rang the police and found out there'd been a 'bad crash' in Brimsdown so 'drove around'. 'It wasn't too far from my house, it was about an 11-minute drive,' Ebony said. 'The road was blocked off. I hadn't been told who was involved in the crash or what had happened. 'I wasn't allowed to know any information.' She was then directed to The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel in the East End, where Stephanie had been taken. Holding back tears, Ebony said: 'I did everything I could that day and I wouldn't change anything. I went to the hospital… I wasn't allowed to know anything without Stephanie's mother knowing first.' 9 Zailac was deemed unfit to stand trial earlier this month Credit: Central News 9 Mollison Avenue in Brimsdown where the crash took place Credit: Google Maps 9 Stephanie and her mum Nicholle Diroyan (left) Credit: Ebony Neville A screen shot she captured of Stephanie during the call, a few minutes before the crash, was shown in court. Ebony took to the stand to give evidence. She said: 'I was quite upset and ran out of the room immediately afterwards, and put myself together before returning.' Zailac suffers from amnesia and doesn't remember the details of what happened after suffering a brain injury in the collision and subsequent psychiatric issues. He had been ruled unfit to stand trial so the jury had to formally decide whether he did the act alleged, namely causing Stephanie's death by dangerous driving. The jury then found he did carry out the act. Judge Sarah Munro, KC, said Zailac will be supervised by a nominated social worker and the Hillingdon mental health team for two years. 'This is the only way your mental health can be restored in order for a decision to be made as to whether there are further legal consequences for you to face,' the judge said. Prosecutor Frederick Hookway told the court that the Crown intends to put Zailac on trial if he recovers. 'The objective of this order is for the improvement of the defendant's mental health not only for his own sake but for the future of these proceedings,' he said. 'The crown do intend to reinstitute these proceedings when and if appropriate.' Stephanie's mum Nicholle Diroyan sobbed as she read her victim impact statement at the Old Bailey on July 7. She said: 'The pain of losing her is immeasurable and every day without her feels incomplete.' Ebony, who now lives in Manchester, has launched a petition to try and ensure Stephanie's family get justice. 'There's been three years of constant delays and adjournments - and now we're told it'll be 2027 before we know if Ivan can even stand trial. 'It's the waiting. We're left in the dark.'. 'I feel so sorry for Stephanie's mum Nicholle - who's always at the court but then left frustrated each time.' Ebony added: 'We were told the jury returned a verdict in a record time. Quickest for death by dangerous driving for 27 years. 'Despite this clear outcome, family and friends are waiting for justice.' Referring to the two-year order, she said: 'It's a deterrent of the law, rather than an enforcement.' She added: 'That grievance, when everything is brought back up. I'm quite shaky on this call, it's traumatic to relive the tragic crash and death of Stephanie.' 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Email 9 Ebony had rushed out in her own car after learning about the crash Credit: Ebony Neville 9 Stephanie with her pals Ella, Mia and Millie on a night out Credit: Ebony Neville
