'HE WAS LIKE A LITTLE BROTHER TO US' TRIBUTES TO CYCLIST, 18, KILLED ON A5 BLACKSPOT.

Byline: DAVID POWELL

AN 18-year-old cyclist died in a horrific smash with a car on a notorious accident blackspot.

Campaigners last night called for a change in the speed limit of the A5 after the crash which killed Sion Wyn Pritchard, of Tregarth.

The teenager's bike crashed with a Vauxhall Vectra coming in the opposite direction on a crossroads on the A5 between Bryn Bella at Bethesda, on Thursday at 8.47pm.

Yesterday, as police named Sion, his family were too upset to speak about the tragedy.

Mourners left about a dozen bunches of flowers with heartfelt messages of sympathy at the scene.

One onlooker, who did not wish to be named, said: "He was like a little brother to us."

Gwynedd county councillor John Jones said: "It's a terrible tragedy. My feelings go out to his parents."

He has long called on the Welsh Assembly Government to cut the speed on the trunk road from 60mph to 40mph.

He said: "This accident may have been avoidable, this is what's so annoying. The people of the area have been on and on about the dangers."

Describing the risks, he said: "It's the speed of the cars and from Bangor there's a blind, left hand bend.

"It comes on so quickly so your braking distance comes into force."

He added: "It's so windy with so many bends and there are concealed entrances.

" But, in the view of most people, a 40mph speed limit should be in force from Halfway Bridge through Bryn Bella into Bethesda.

Gwynedd county councillor Ann Williams said: "Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time. All the people of Dyffryn Ogwen are thinking about them."

She echoed calls for the speed limit to be reduced to 40mph.

On Thursday evening, paramedics were called and took the cyclist to Ysbyty Gwynedd but he died there later.

A North Wales Police spokesman said: "The pedal cyclist was riding downhill towards Rachub.

"The green Vectra, driven by a local person, was coming from the Bangor direction. The cyclist sustained fatal injuries."

An ambulance took him to Ysbyty Gwynedd. Doctors treated him but he was pronounced dead there.

In 2006, a petition signed by 1,081 people was sent to Welsh Assembly Government's transport minister Andrew Davies, asking for speed restrictions on the A5 trunk road.

However, in June that year the WAG said a reduction in the speed limit there "cannot be justified", but it will be reviewed when new criteria comes into force.

Alaw Jones, who has lived on this stretch of road at Bryn Bella for more than 30 years, organised the original petition with neighbour Nesta Hughes.

. Police appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to ring 0845 607 1001 (Welsh line), or 0845 607 1002 (English) or anonymously on CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.

CAPTION(S):

Flowers left at the scene at Bethesda where 18-year-old Sion Wyn Pritchard, of Tregarth, died after his bike crashed with a car Pictures: ROBERT PARRY JONES