Dying mum Dawn was ‘fighting for her baby’ (From This Is Lancashire)

Dying mum Dawn was ‘fighting for her baby’

7:28am Saturday 26th May 2012 in News

THE teenager who held the hand of dying young mum Dawn Graves has told how she desperately hoped the 25-year-old would survive.

Miss Graves was killed after being involved in a horror crash with a truck in Stephens Street, Breightmet, at 12.20pm on Thursday.

She had popped out to BJ’s News, Food and Wine in Bury Road, to buy milk and sweets when she was involved in a collision with the lorry.

Rachel Bell, aged 18, and her boyfriend, Thomas Grimshaw, aged 26, of Breightmet, witnessed the accident.

The couple, who are still in shock, are calling for the junction to be made safer.

Yesterday, they placed at flowers at the scene.

Miss Bell rushed to help Miss Graves, while Mr Grimshaw went to assist the lorry driver.

Fighting back tears, Miss Bell said: “I held her hand. She looked at me and I told her baby was okay.

“I tried to comfort her.

“She was badly injured, but I said to Tom she is fighting for her baby.”

She added: “Our thoughts are with the family.”

It is understood the Veolia lorry had turned left into Stephens Street and struck Miss Graves.

Another person flagged down an ambulance.

Miss Graves’ child was in a pram, which was knocked over in the collision.

A woman ran to look after the youngster.

Mr Grimshaw said: “I stopped the lorry, I don’t think he realised what had happened.

“I got into the cab, and told him, he turned so white and was in shock.”

He added: “The junction needs to be made safer, metal railings or making the road one-way coming out would make it safer.

“It is a blind corner when vehicles turn into it, drivers cannot see.”

Council bosses have now promised to review the situation at the junction once the coroner’s investigations are complete.