A landlady, who owns a pub near Darwen, says it was “only a matter of time” before a serious accident outside her pub, after a man in his 20s died in a horror crash.

Wendy Bell, landlady of the The Black Bull on Broken Stone Road, says improvements need to be made to the nearby roads and dangerous junction outside the pub.

This is after a 20-year-old died, following a crash on September 20. Officers found a Seat Ibiza car had been involved in a crash with a Toyota Prius. The Seat Ibiza then crashed into the pub and overturned.

Wendy Bell, landlady of the The Black Bull Wendy Bell, landlady of the The Black Bull (Image: Wendy Bell)

A passenger in a Seat Ibiza, a man in his 20s, suffered serious injuries and was in a critical condition in hospital. On Thursday, it was announced that he had died.

Wendy said: “First and foremost our sympathy goes out to the family of the young man. It has been such a terrible and difficult fortnight for everyone involved.

“We are absolutely devastated. We were praying for him to pull through.

“It has been a really difficult couple of weeks for all those affected. I am a mum of two boys and [the news of the death] has upset us as a family. Some people have started bringing flowers to the site of the crash.”

Wendy, who has been at the helm of the pub for 13 years, said she has had “endless issues” with the road and junction since becoming landlady.

She says road markings aren’t clear and give way signs are obscured by trees. Wendy said she has witnessed near misses.

She said: “I have had endless issues with this junction. Since we have moved here we have had a huge amount of near misses and accidents.

Obstructed view of give way sign at The Black Bull Obstructed view of give way sign at The Black Bull (Image: Wendy Bell)

“I have constantly been on at authorities asking them to improve markings on the roads as they have faded again. Give way signs along the roads are covered by trees so you can barely see them.

“There have been major issues with this junction and I have sent numerous emails to councillors and authorities.

“It was a matter of time before something like this happened. I said something will only be done when something serious happens – and now it has happened.

“We have seen cars doing 60 or 70mph. We see it all the time. Even in the pub, you can hear how fast the cars are going.

"Sometimes I look out the window and see a near miss."

Wendy said she is often asked to send CCTV footage of minor crashes.

She said: “I wish I had £1 for every time I have had CCTV requests from police and people who have had minor accidents.

“I have just had a letter through the door asking for CCTV for another accident. It’s like a full-time job on top of everything else.”

Wendy said she is worried about the safety of her customers and often gives them high-visibility jackets to wear while walking home.

“We do our best to improve safety here,” she said. “We have put rocks on the grass on the opposite side to discourage people from parking on the dangerous junction.

“There is no footpath and at times I do fear for our customers who walk home.

"We have even borrowed high vis jackets to people to wear walking home because we are conscious that it is a really fast road [and dangerous junction].”

Wendy was forced to close the pub on the weekend the crash happened. The structural damage is now being assessed.

Wendy said: “The police closed the pub on the night it happened and suggested getting it checked out for safety reasons. We had to close all weekend.

“It was hit with such force that it has damaged things inside the pub, which is incredible considering how thick the wall is. It’s damaged the windows, seating and plastering.

Damage to wall of The Black Bull Damage to wall of The Black Bull (Image: Wendy Bell) “We have a snug and we have had to cordon it off and have a structural surveyor coming to see how the damage can be repaired.

“There were people sat in the snug when it happened so that was a shock for them.”

Wendy is calling for road improvements and traffic calming measures at the junction and surrounding roads.

Damage to wall of The Black Bull Damage to wall of The Black Bull (Image: Wendy Bell)

She said: “The road needs to be made slower – something needs to be done. This won’t be the only serious accident if they don’t do something.

“Anything that can be done to avoid these horrendous things from happening [is welcomed]. Incidents happen all the time on this road, especially on this junction.”

Sergeant Laura Kendall of the police’s serious collision investigation unit, said: “This was a collision which has very sadly resulted in a man losing his life. First and foremost my thoughts are very much with his family at this incredibly distressing time. They are being supported by specialist officers.

“As we investigate the collision, we want to hear from anyone who witnessed it or was in the area around the time and has dashcam/CCTV footage.

“Please contact 101, quoting log 1472 of September 20, or email SCIU@lancashire.police.uk".

A spokesperson for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: "The police are the lead agency for collision investigations and have the primary duty to investigate and establish the circumstances that have led to road deaths and serious injuries.

"The police have already made an appeal for witnesses and arrangements have been made for the council’s highways service to attend a site meeting with the police to review the circumstances of the accident."