Appeal: fatal collision, A17

Update 3.33pm, 11 January

Officers have completed their enquiries at the scene and the road closures remain in place until Monday afternoon by Highways so that the debris can be cleared and work to make the road safe can be carried out.  

While the closures are no longer police closures, we ask that drivers continue to heed the closure signs and do not put themselves or others at risk by driving on roads which will not be gritted and remain very icy. 

There will be no further updates from police about the road closures. 

Update 11.07am, 11 January

The A17 between Brant Broughton and Leadenham will be closed until Monday lunchtime and drivers are being advised to follow road closure signs.

Multiple closures in the roads leading to the A17 are also in place with diversions.

Officers have retuned to the scene today (Saturday, 11 January), to carry out further investigative work, and there is also significant clean up work which need to be undertaken to ensure the road is safe to use. This will take until at least lunchtime on Monday and the road will not be opened until then.

This investigation is very complex, and it is absolutely vital that our officers are able to carry out their work with the upmost care and attention, and that includes full access to the scene, which spans and large area; two people have lost their lives and they deserve our best efforts.

Unfortunately, we have had a number of drivers today contravening the road closure notices which are in place. They have been issued with penalty notices.

Road closure signs are mandatory; do not drive down a road which has a sign saying it is closed. If you do, you will not be insured.

Driving on these closed roads is also very risky because they are not being gritted as they are not due to be driven on, and as such are significantly icy - including black ice which can't be seen - causing a further risk of collision. It is also risks compromising our investigation into this collision. 

We know that this is really frustrating for people who have places to be, but we ask that you please bear with us while we carry out very important stage of our investigation so that the two people who have died, and their families, have then best work done on their behalf.

Original release, 10 January, 13.59pm

We have launched an investigation into a collision which has sadly claimed the lives of both drivers involved.

Officers were called to the A17 between Brant Broughton and Leadenham just after 7am today (Friday, 10 January), to a report that a white ford transit van and a tanker HGV had collided.

Sadly, the driver of the lorry, a 68-year-old man, and the 23-year-old man driving the van were both pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other people in the vehicles, and no other vehicles are believed to have been involved.

Their next of kin have been informed and will be supported by specially trained officers.

Crews from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue remain on scene to clear debris safely, and officers are at the location carrying out initial investigations this afternoon. This is complex work and will take us some time, so the road is expected to be closed until early evening.

Local diversions have been put in place by Highways, and we ask people to avoid the area.

We are now investigating the circumstances of the collision, and we’re asking anyone who witnessed the incident, or has dashcam and was in the area at the time to check their footage.

We are keen to view footage which shows either vehicle in the minutes before the collision. The white ford transit was travelling from the Sleaford direction, towards Newark along the A17, while the tanker was travelling from the Newark direction towards Sleaford.

If you can help, please contact us on 101 and ask for the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) quoting incident 53 of 10 January;

Or email [email protected] quoting incident 53 of 10 January.