Two families grieve as probe in M56 tragedy begins

Oct 26 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

m56 motorway death

THE devastated father of a seven-year-old boy killed as he crossed the M56 last night revealed how he had brought him to Runcorn “to give him a better life.”

In a tragically ironic twist, Colin Lambert – who had won custody of his son just eight weeks ago – also told of how he had been teaching him the Green Cross Code just hours before his death.

His son Kieran Coupe died alongside his friend, six-year-old Guy Davies, at 7.20pm on Wednesday night after they were struck by three saloon cars as they crossed the M56 on their toy scooters.

The family of Guy today released a picture of him.

Mr Lambert, of Blyth Close, Runcorn, revealed that earlier this year he had to fight for the custody of his son, who was then living with his mother in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

He said life had “been hard” for Kieran, and just eight weeks ago he had brought him back to his hometown “to give him a better life.”

Mr Lambert, who had been sedated by doctors, publicly addressed Kieran’s mother, who still lives in Mansfield, and said: “I want her to know that I did my very best to look after him.

“I always thought he would be safe.”

Guy, who lived with mum Deb Davies and step-father Nicholas Fazackerley in the same street as his friend, leaves behind two brothers. Kieran leaves a step- brother and three step-sisters.

Guy’s family were too upset to talk about the tragedy last night.

A search party from Blyth Close, where both children lived, had been looking for the Murdishaw primary school pupils for up to two hours after they went missing as they enjoyed half-term playing together on their scooters.

Mr Lambert said he now fears the boys attempted to cross an unlit part of the M56 close to the Preston Brook pub after hearing their names being called by the worried search party on the opposite side of the motorway.

Motorway police have confirmed they received a number of 999 calls on Wednesday evening from horrified motorists who had seen the young children walking on the hard shoulder.

It is understood a number of drivers had managed to swerve to miss the boys on the Chester-bound carriageway before they were hit by the three saloon cars and were killed instantly.