Ashdown tells of fatal crash escape

LORD ASHDOWN has described his "miraculous" escape from a car crash in which a man died.

The former Liberal Democrat leader was being driven home by his wife Jane when they were involved in a three-car pile-up at a notorious accident blackspot.

The couple escaped injury but the ex-Marine was unable to do anything to save the life of the driver of another car, 49-year-old Mark Hurford, following the crash on the A356 in Somerset on January 24.

"We were about a mile outside Crewkerne and a car came around the corner," he told the Western Morning News.

"My wife was in the driver's seat and miraculously and thankfully she was unhurt. However, the young man was dead by the time I reached him.

"We are very shaken by it, but of course very concerned for the young man's family and wife.

"I have been in touch with his wife and we are devastated for them and send them our prayers and condolences."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash in which a van driver was injured.

By Press Association reporters