Norfolk road crashes: Bishop's call for prayers and action

Rt Rev Dr Jane Steen, Bishop of Lynn, also said lessons should be learned by those responsible for our roads and those who use them.

Bishop Jane said: "My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones in the recent fatal crashes on the A47.  Their lives have been cut off in their prime and all those who knew them are the poorer for these terrible events. 

"This is a time of stress for everyone as heating and food costs spiral and we face another spell of cold weather, and no family should have to bear the agony of these dreadful accidents as well.  

Rt Rev Dr Jane Steen, Bishop of Lynn (Image: Newsquest)

"I would ask all those with responsibility for traffic safety to find learning in what has happened.  That includes those responsible for our roads and all those of us who drive. My prayers remain with those immediately affected in these last few days."

Insp Simon Jones of the Norfolk and Suffolk Roads Policing Unit has urged drivers to take extra care on the roads during the cold snap, which created hazardous driving conditions even on gritted roads.

There were multiple serious injuries in collisions at Downham Market, Crimplesham and Hockering on Wednesday (Image: Chris Bishop)

In the most recent incidents, two women were airlifted to hospital and there were what police described as "multiple critical casualties" after collisions at Downham Market, Crimplesham and Hockering on Wednesday.

It came days after three people died in a collision on the A47 near the Hardwick Roundabout on Sunday night, while a man in his 30s died after his car collided with a tree at Wisbech on Sunday morning.

A woman in her 90s who was involved in a collision with a bus in Norwich on Saturday morning died of her injuries on Monday.

And on Friday, a man in his 40s died after he was involved in a two-vehicle crash on the A1075 at Shipdham, near Dereham.