Laing O’Rourke director killed in crash

Laing O’Rourke is mourning the death of Caroline Blackman, human capital director at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project in Somerset, who died in a car crash en route to work early on 13 February.

Hailed as a committed member of the company’s leadership team, Blackman had worked in the company for nearly 20 years, including on the London Olympics and the Pacific Highway Woolgoolga to Ballina (W2B) highway upgrade project in Australia.

Laing O’Rourke chief executive Ray O’Rourke said in a statement: “It is with sadness we announce the untimely passing of our colleague Caroline Blackman.

“Having spent almost two decades with the business, Caroline was most recently our human capital director at Hinkley Point C in Somerset.

“Not only was she highly respected by all who worked with her, she was fulfilling one of our most important posts, in helping to fully resource, manage and operate one of our biggest joint venture project."

“Caroline will be known to many, in our offices, projects and sites across the UK and further afield, as a bright, lively and committed member of our leadership team, and as someone who was very progressive in her agenda.

“She played a key role in our London Olympics delivery partner consortium CLM and took those learnings to Australia to help us win the W2B Pacific Highway partnership.

“We will be doing whatever we can to support Caroline’s family.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this sad time.”

Police have appealed for witnesses, saying the collision happened on the A369 Martcombe Road near Bristol.

A police statement said: “A Toyota Rav4 driving towards Bristol and away from the M5 left the carriageway at about 6.45am and collided with a lamppost before sliding down a grass embankment.

“The car’s driver, a woman in her 50s, received treatment at the scene but sadly died shortly afterwards.”