Relatives of headteacher Daniel Slinn to quiz Highways Agency at inquest

Jul 28 2008 By Catherine Lillington

THE devastated family of a Birmingham head teacher who was killed when a van crossed the central reservation of the M5 believe concrete crash barriers could have saved his life.

Dad-of-two Daniel Slinn, from Edgbaston, died in a head-on collision on May 27, after the van carrying beer barrels careered across the motorway.

The 44-year-old, who was head of Calshot Primary School, in Great Barr, was driving his family home after a holiday in the West Country.

At his inquest, which is due to start in November, his family will ask why the Highways Agency hadn’t already changed the steel barriers to safer concrete.

Daniel’s 41-year-old wife Lisa, who was treated in hospital for two days after suffering ligament damage to her hip in the crash, said: “We don’t know yet what part the crash barrier played, but we want to find out. My brother-in-law certainly believes a concrete barrier on the central reservation could have saved him.”

Daniel had been writing a children’s book and his wife Lisa and daughters Beth, 16, and Carrie, 11, are planning to finish it for him.

Lisa added: “Daniel was a wonderful husband and father. He was a very positive person, and he was a huge part of the lives of very many people who have so many good things to say about him.

Beth said: “He was always a lot of fun, liked to think he was a great dancer, and made the best sandwiches for us to take to school every day. He was often worried that he embarrassed my sister and me, but he never did. We liked the same music and enjoyed spending time together.

“I hope I can make him proud when I go on to study for my A-levels in September.”

A Highways Agency spokesman said: “We take safety very seriously. The introduction of concrete barriers in the central reserve on motorways was implemented as policy in January 2005. The installation of concrete barriers on motorways will be a phased process.

“It will apply to new road schemes, existing road improvement schemes or where existing barriers in the central reserve need replacing.”