AN accident victim's death has prompted scores of readers to throw their support behind the Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted Lives Campaign.

The tragic events in Mellor Lane, Mellor, highlighted the grim toll of death and serious injury among young drivers and their passengers.

Ashley Connell, 23, of Knowsley Road, Wilpshire, was killed when the Honda Civic Type R he was in hit stone walls before ploughing in to a parked car near the Spread Eagle pub.

Four of his friends were seriously injured, and police believe speed was to blame.

Some 338 people have now signed our petition backing the campaign for increased education and tougher leg-islation to reduce accidents.

Since the crash on Saturday afternoon, more than 50 people have signed our online petition, bringing the total to 178 .

Another 160 readers have filled in coupons in the Lancashire Telegraph.

And as well as backing our efforts to reduce the number of accidents involving 17 to 24-year-olds, many of those signing the petition gave their view on the latest tragedy and its implications.

Sue Devaney, Ramsgreave Drive, Blackburn, said: "I witness too many races on the dual carriageway outside my house. It needs to stop."

Graham Frost, of Mellor Lane, simply wrote: "Save them from themselves, please."

Steve Whalley, of Walmsley Avenue, Rishton, said: "There always has to be a death before action is deemed necessary. I fully support any action that makes our roads a safer place to be."

Expert driving instructor Adrian Shurmer, who backed Wasted Lives and its calls for better education of young drivers, said the surge in support for the campaign showed that people realised that action was needed.

He said: "If this campaign can help raise driver education then it's positive. But it needs to be the right sort of education in order to stop deaths like this."

The four other passengers are recovering in hospital. Ashley Fielding, 25, of Whalley Banks, Whalley, is in a stable condition in the orthopaedic ward in Royal Preston Hospital.

Sam Litherland, 21, of Longsight Road, Copster Green, is poorly but stable in the critical care unit in Royal Preston Hospital.

Julian Hollings, 23, from Ribchester Road, Blackburn, is stable in Royal Blackburn Hospital.

And Christian Gillibrand, 20, from Ramsgreave Drive, Blackburn, is stable but poorly in the intensive care unit in Royal Blackburn Hospital.