A DISTRAUGHT nurse involved in a fireball smash which killed two college students today told of how the horrific scene will haunt her for the rest of her life.

Blackburn College students Gareth Edwards and Joseph Slupski died in a three vehicle crash on the notorious Grane Road yesterday morning.

Gareth, 19, of Downgreen Road, and passenger Joseph, 17, of Appledore Drive, both Harwood, near Bolton, were identified by their dental records.

Police said the Astra went out of control after overtaking a Volkswagen Polo and collided with an HGV from Clitheroe conservatory roof firm Ultraframe before being pushed back into the Polo and bursting into flames.

The accident happened as the teenagers travelled towards Blackburn at around 9am.

Volkswagen driver Angela Hilton, 36, of Durham Close, Little Lever, managed to put her car - with a full tank of petrol -into reverse and get out of the way. She was taken to Bury General Hospital suffering severe shock and later released.

Mrs Hilton dialled 999 on her mobile phone but had to watch helplessly as the two trapped teenagers perished.

Mrs Hilton was travelling to Blackburn's Queens Park Hospital where she works as a staff nurse in theatre. She said: "In my working experience I have seen operations but never witnessed anything such as this.

"It will haunt me for the rest of my life. At first I wasn't aware there was a fire. Then I was hit and I saw the flames. I reversed then I got out of the car.

"The fire took hold within a matter of seconds. There was no way of helping them. I believe they were unconscious. I still haven't come to terms with it."

She said the Vauxhall had overtaken her just before the accident.

Sheena Ewing, principal of Blackburn College, said: "Our condolences go to the families."

Joseph was an apprentice mechanic and was on a course at college-run Blackburn Technology Management Centre.

He worked at the Syd Brown Rover dealership in Park Road, Blackburn.

Gareth Edwards was on an HND course in sports studies.

Joseph's parents George and Pauline Slupski said: "Joe was a loving, caring and much loved young man. He will be terribly missed."

Shaun Pritchard, 33, of Preston New Road, Mellor Brook, was driving the HGV which belonged to Clitheroe conservatory firm Ultraframe and was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary with shock.

He was allowed home later but was too traumatised to talk about the accident.

David Moore, chief executive of Ultraframe, said the lorry driver had been with the firm for more than seven years and was a very experienced driver.

He said: "It's a very tragic accident and our thoughts are with the bereaved. Our employee is extremely shocked and disturbed." Craig Helsby, of Sidmouth Avenue, Haslingden, was travelling in front of the Astra.

He said: "The car came round the bend, its back end slid round straight into an articulated lorry coming the other way.

"The petrol tank must have been hit because the next thing it just ignited. It was foggy, misty and damp so he slid."

Grane Road was closed for five hours.

Margaret Murray, secretary of Grane Residents' Association, which has been campaigning for safety improvements, said: "We had a meeting in March with representatives from Rossendale Borough Council, who said work would start in April.

"It should have been completed by the summer but nothing has been done except a 30 mph sign was moved a few hundred yards."

Tim Barlow, chairman of the GRA, said: "How many more people have to be killed before something is done? The road just isn't designed for the volume of traffic that uses it."

Coun Nick Pilling, chairman of Rossendale's engineering and planning committee, said: "This road has been identified as one of the most dangerous in Lancashire. It's definitely a priority although I know that might seem little consolation at this time."

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