On 7 March 2020, Lesley’s granddaughter Keegan was killed when a car in which she was a rear passenger crashed into a wall on the B6108 Huddersfield Road heading towards Meltham. Keegan was only weeks away from celebrating her 21st birthday, and her last conversation with Lesley had been about planning the party.
Keegan ‘s death has been devastating for the family. Keegan was an incredibly strong personality, meaning her missing presence is felt at family get-togethers. Some family members bring photos of Keegan along with them when the family meets up, as this helps with the grief and the impact of loss.
Keegan, 20, was killed when a car in which she was a rear passenger crashed into a wall
Keegan was a big personality at such a young age. Her loss has been devastating for the whole family. I am sharing Keegan’s story with Brake in her memory and to highlight the importance of safe roads to make sure this does not happen to anyone else.
In the months after the crash, Lesley was able to gain advice and support counselling from Brake’s Road Victim Service, noting she has seen first-hand the difference the emotional support provided makes in dealing with the sudden grief and trauma of losing a loved one. Knowing the National Road Victim Service is there to access at any time is incredibly reassuring.
To help Brake, Lesley has participated in fundraising activities, and has lots of plans for the future, such as organising sponsored walks and going into schools to talk about road safety. Lesley is sharing Keegan’s story with Brake to raise awareness of the importance of safe roads, as she does not want this to happen to other people. Too many people overlook the devastating impact of carnage that unsafe roads cause, and Lesley wants to do everything she can to promote safer driving.