A man and a woman have died following a collision between a car and a lorry on a busy road in the west of Norfolk.

Eastern Daily Press: Emergency services were called to the scene of a serious crash at Stradsett near Downham Market on Wednesday, October 21. Picture: Sarah HussainEmergency services were called to the scene of a serious crash at Stradsett near Downham Market on Wednesday, October 21. Picture: Sarah Hussain (Image: Archant)

The driver of a black Proton, a man in his 60s, died at the scene after the car collided with a red Volvo goods vehicle on the A1122 at Stradsett, near Downham Market on Wednesday.The passenger, a woman in her 70s, sustained critical injuries, but later died in hospital.

Police, ambulance and the fire service were called to the scene at around 10.15am.

Fire crews from Downham Market, King’s Lynn North and South attended and used hydraulic rescue equipment to release the vehicle’s occupants.

The road remained closed for a number of hours while investigations continued.

Eastern Daily Press: Emergency services were called to the scene of a serious crash at Stradsett near Downham Market on Wednesday, October 21. Picture: Sarah HussainEmergency services were called to the scene of a serious crash at Stradsett near Downham Market on Wednesday, October 21. Picture: Sarah Hussain (Image: Archant)

There have been calls to improve safety further along the road by installing a roundabout at the crossroad where the A1122 and A134 meet.

Ward members for Stradsett, councillors Geoffery Hipperson and Mike Howland said the roundabout would make the junction safer.

Mr Hipperson, who is the mayor of West Norfolk, said: “I am very sorry to hear this and send my condolences to the people who have lost their lives and to their families. It’s very sad when someone dies suddenly.”

Speaking about the ongoing request for a change to the road, Mr Hipperson said a roundabout would make the road safer.

A new road and roundabout has been proposed to the government to help vehicles effectively bypass the staggered junction where crashes have happened in the past.

Mr Hipperson said; “I think it is a dangerous crossroad. I think a roundabout would make it a safer junction. This is what we have been requesting for a long while.

“One of the problems is they do not always realise vehicles are coming up the left hand side.”

Mr Howland sent his condolences to the families affected by the crash, adding: “I have been here 35 years and I cannot think of another one like this in that area. So many lorries come up from Thetford on the A134 to the crossroads across the A1122, it is two main A roads crossing each other.

“I am very sorry to hear about this.

“It wasn’t going to be long before something like this happened.”

An appeal has been launched for witnesses who may have seen the vehicles at the time of the collision or before.

Drivers are asked to contact Sergeant Peter Howlett at the Roads and Armed Policing Team at Swaffham with any information by emailing peter.howlett@norfolk.pnn.police.uk or call 101 and quote incident 121 of 21/10/20.