Two Fatalities Following Car Crash

 A man and a woman were killed in a collision on the A46 north of Lincoln, near Nettleham.

A blue Vauxhall Astra collided with a purple Citroen Xsara between Riseholme Lane and Washdyke Lane, the Lincolnshire Echo today reports.

Scene of the fatal crash.

Four people were taken to Lincoln County Hospital after emergency services were called to the scene just after 7.10pm on Thursday night. A 47-year-old woman from Lincoln, who had been a passenger in the Astra, died a short time later at Lincoln County Hospital. A 42-year-old man from Caistor, the driver of the Citroen Xsara, also died later in hospital.

Lincolnshire Police have now named the victims as Ms. Sara Horsley of Lincoln Road in Dunholme and Mr. Paul Payne of Plough Hill in Caistor.

The driver of the Astra and another passenger from the Astra, believed to be a local woman, are currently being treated at Lincoln County Hospital.

Mr. John Siddle, a spokesman for the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, said:

"Although we are still investigating we are fairly confident speed was not a contributing factor in this incident."

Mr. Paul Coathup, assistant director for Highways, added:

"We must now await the results of collision investigations and work closely with the police, through the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, before deciding whether any highways improvements need to be made.

"When we understand what happened, and the circumstances which led to this tragic event are known, we will review the associated highway if required."

Eyewitness Mr. Martin Stillyards told the paper said:

"One of the cars was on fire, with high flames coming from the engine area."

The two deaths bring the total number of people killed on Lincolnshire's roads so far this year to eight – compared with four at the same time last year.

Lincolnshire Police have requested that anyone with any further information on the crash can call them on 0300 1110300, quoting incident number 418 of February 10.