Crystal Owen, whose 16-year-old son Harvey drowned in a car crash, hopes to help develop technology to prevent others from suffering the same fate. Her son died along with three friends when their Ford Fiesta entered a water-filled ditch during a camping trip in rural North Wales.
An inquest found all four boys were unharmed by the crash but drowned as they could not get out of the overturned vehicle. As the three-year anniversary of the tragedy approaches, Crystal is planning to work alongside researchers at Loughborough University on tech to help people escape if their car enters water.
Automatic windows could save lives
One possibility is to create windows that come down automatically before a vehicle is fully submerged, giving passengers vital time to escape. Crystal, 41, said: “It was my worst nightmare to discover Harvey was conscious when the car crashed.
“It haunts and tortures me to think of his final moments. If his window had opened automatically, there would have been a route for him to exit and he might still be here today. This new technology will save lives.”
News of the project comes days after three more teens died when their car ended up in the River Wear, Co Durham.
Funding needed for study
Professors at Loughborough’s Transport Safety Research Centre have agreed to conduct the study, which would take between six and eight months, but need around £75,000 to get going. Crystal, who is working alongside campaigner Andy Spavins, is hoping a road safety organisation will provide funding, but would ideally like those in power to foot the bill.
She added: “Having the government’s backing would mean everything. Harvey was let down by two massive gaps in legislation and the boys lost their lives needlessly.”
If the study goes ahead, the findings will be shared with car manufacturers and the government, with the goal to get the technology installed in new vehicles.
Preventable deaths
Harvey, from Shrewsbury, Shrops, died along with fellow passengers Jevon Hirst, 16, and Wilf Fitchett, 17, and driver Hugo Morris, 18, on November 19, 2023. They were found in a ditch near the villages of Garreg and Llanfrothen. An inquest concluded their deaths were preventable.
Crystal is also pushing for the government to introduce graduated driving licences, which require newly qualified drivers to have at least six months’ driving experience before taking a test. They have just been introduced in Northern Ireland.
