A dedicated mum who suddenly lost her son continues to campaign for change as she helps families right across the region.
The ECHO previously reported how Pauline Fielding treasures the last time she kissed her 18-year-old son after he died on the day of his exam results. After receiving a call from her husband to say her son Andrew had been taken to Arrowe Park Hospital after a crash one day in June 1994, it was worse than they thought.
Andrew, her "kind, thoughtful" son, who loved fishing, "died instantly" in the crash. His Vauxhall Astra collided with an oncoming car after swerving to avoid the Volvo in front of it when it cut across his path at the junction of the A540 Chester High Road and Raby Park Road in Neston.
READ MORE: Man arrested on suspicion of murdering Ashley Dale in her home
She told the ECHO that a second of losing concentration can cause a "lifetime of devastation" as she began to tirelessly campaign for safer roads in memory of her much-loved son. Pauline joined RoadPeace - a charity supporting people bereaved or injured in crashes - where she became a trustee and North West coordinator.
The charity campaigns to reduce road dangers, and organises a football tournament, hosted by LFC Foundations in 2019, where young players are given road safety messages between matches. The number of reported road fatalities has fallen since Andrew died, but still, an average of five people die each UK roads, says Pauline.
She told the ECHO: "Initially, you're so traumatised you're just getting by hour to hour. You're just struggling and I realised I was silly not to seek help earlier. I was invited to a service for road crash victims and met another victim and from there we decided we needed regular services."
The annual remembrance event will be held in the Lady Chapel of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on Wednesday, August 31 at 2pm. Pauline, who has recently been awarded an MBE, said the service means "so much" to the grieving families, some of whom have attended every year for decades.
She added on the anniversary of Princess Diana's death, not only supporting the families who attend, her thoughts will also be with the Royal Family.
She said: "The service means an awful lot and it will be our first meeting in person since the pandemic. A momentary loss of concentration causes a life-time of devastation. I'd like to thank everyone for their support over the last 29 years, without the public support and family and friends, we would have survived. Please keep helping those bereaved."
'My daughter will never be forgotten'
Dominique Williams, a dance and performing arts student at Edge Hill University from Maghull, was on her way to Creamfields when she was killed in a car crash in 2009, along with her friend Nicola Edgar who also died. The 20-year-old was excited to be heading to the festival, but tragically she never returned home.
Thirteen years on from Dominique's death on August 29, her mum Lesley Williams said the service has really helped them through their struggles. Lesley told the ECHO: "The service itself is so poignant for us because it's two days after her death.
"The four of them had gone to Creamfields and there had been a crash on the Knowsley Expressway, they'd come off the roundabout the there'd been a blow out, the car flipped and the two backseat passengers were killed. We found out at 2pm that day, the police told us and that's when your world crashes down. It's crazy how it can happen so instant but it's a lifetime for people involved."
Lesley heard of the service and knew she "had to go" and be around people who "understand". Being so moved by the ceremony, she now attends every year to remember her much-loved daughter and even reads poems she writes.
She added: "The service means so much, you're in the cathedral which is an emotional place anyway but everyone there is in the same boat unfortunately and you almost take comfort from it. As a mum, all I ever wanted to do was keep Dom's memory alive, she will never be forgotten.
"It's another way for me to honour her memory. Road crashes cause devastation whether a momentary loss concentration or stupidity, whatever it is, a whole group of people's lives change forever and there's no going back.
"At the service, you don't have to pretend you're okay and it means a lot to be around people who understand. It's just lovely the way it's done, there needs to be more out there, you don't know about RoadPeace unless you need it."
RoadPeace remembrance
Every August is Road Victim Month for RoadPeace and at the end of which is a remembrance service for road crash victims at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. It is always held on the date of Princess Diana's death, the 25th anniversary of which is this year.
RoadPeace North West is inviting those who have been bereaved or injured through road crashes, together with those who support them, to the remembrance event where flowers will be laid in remembrance of loved ones who have died and photographs of them will be shown. A minute’s silence will also be held.
The service will be attended by Supt Clare Jenkins and Police Cadets, the Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrel, dignitaries as well as families and friends of those killed and injured on our roads. Bootle MP Peter Dowd who lost his daughter in a road crash is due to speak.
RoadPeace’s helpline number has changed to 0800 160 1069 and is now free to call. More information about the charity, which helps many across the region, can be found by clicking here.
READ NEXT:
Friends leave tributes to 'little ray of sunshine' Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Man arrested on suspicion of murdering Ashley Dale in her home
Son appears in court charged with stabbing his mum to death in pub car park
Three men arrested over Sam Rimmer murder released
Man admits murdering wife after 62-year-old was found dead in apartment
