Archie King: Notorious history of Fagans Rd Lisarow black spot emerges after fatality

The stretch of Central Coast road where Archie King, 12, was killed has recorded more than 30 crashes in less than 10 years. So, why hasn’t the council done anything about it?

New details have emerged about the notorious history of the stretch of Fagans Rd, Lisarow, where 12-year-old Archie King was killed at the weekend.

Former resident Shane Logan wrote to then-Gosford City Council in 2014, after five serious crashes in the space of a week, warning “urgent action is required before someone is seriously injured or killed”.

A previous crash at the location where the car also spun 180-degrees, crossed to the wrong side of the road and hit the same power pole. Picture: supplied

Mr Logan said the overwhelming majority of crashes occurred in the wet, with motorists of all ages and experience coming down the hill from the intersection of The Ridgeway.

He said as motorists reached a slight right hand bend the “off camber slope” caused their back wheels to slide out left onto the grass before trying to regain control.

And again, another near identical accident where a car has spun out, crossed to the wrong side of the road and hit the same pole on the passenger’s side. Picture: supplied

Inevitably he said they lost all control and spun across to the wrong side of the road and into a power pole or down an embankment.

“It’s a horrendous road,” he said.

After his letter in 2014 Mr Logan said Gosford Council staff inspected the site and did a “slide test with a shoe” before installing a “reduce speed” sign with a slippery when wet logo.

This driver ended up crossing to the wrong side of the road and hit the power pole head on. Picture: supplied

Another resident said he had documented more than 30 crashes at the site since 2012, not including some accidents which may have occurred when he was at work.

“It was a fatality waiting to happen,” he said.

Young Archie was on his way to play soccer at Pluim Park about 9.15am on Saturday when his father’s Nissan X-trail lost control and hit a power pole.

This car missed the pole but rolled into a tree nearby. The driver was lucky to survive. Residents have reported more than 30 crashes on the same stretch of Fagans Rd, Lisarow, as where Archie King, 12, was tragically killed. Picture: supplied

As in previous accidents at the location, the X-trail spun 180-degrees across to the wrong side of the road and struck the power on the passenger’s side.

There is no suggestion Archie’s father was at fault.

The Year 7 student at Central Coast Sports College was in the front passenger seat and died at the scene.

The reduce speed sign with the slippery when wet motif on Fagans Rd, Lisarow, up the road from where young Archie King was killed. Picture: Richard Noone

Nearby residents said it was the third time the pole had been hit since it was replaced a few years ago after it was snapped in yet another single vehicle crash.

His father was freed after being trapped and was flown to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition.

Archie’s younger brother, seated in the rear of the vehicle, was flown to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in a serious condition.

This car rolled and hit the next power pole down from the one where Archie King, 12, was tragically killed. Picture: supplied

This car missed the pole but rolled down the embankment where it struck a tree. Picture: supplied

The road was closed for several hours on Saturday as officers from the Crash Investigation Unit examined the scene.

Residents said the road was wet at the time.

Floral tributes, cards and a soccer ball have been left on the power pole where young Archie King, 12, was killed on fagans Rd, Lisarow. Picture: Richard Noone

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Archie’s father.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Central Coast Council was contacted for comment.

FIVE CRASHES IN A WEEK

When Mr Logan wrote to Gosford Council in 2014 he outlined a litany of crashes including five in the space of four days:

■ February 25, 2014 — Wet conditions, female driver with baby in back seat lost control and hit the embankment on the left.

■ February 26, 2014 — Wet conditions, white Subaru spun out and clipped the embankment.

■ February 28, 2014 — Wet conditions, silver Commodore with two adults and a baby lost control coming up the hill and ended in bushes.

■ February 28, 2014 — Wet conditions, Toyota Avalon lost control and crossed onto the wrong side of the road.

■ March 1, 2014 — Wet conditions at night, Commodore station wagon lost control, slid into rocks on the left hand side.

Floral tributes, cards and a soccer ball have been left on the power pole where young Archie King, 12, was killed on fagans Rd, Lisarow. Picture: Richard Noone