Powerful car crash sculpture unveiled at Wrexham campus

The Impact Plinth, installed at Coleg Cambria’s Bersham Road campus, is the centrepiece of the college’s new Arrive and Alive campaign.

It aims to raise awareness among young drivers about the potential consequences of dangerous driving.

The sculpture, which depicts a car embedded in a brick wall, was created by college lecturers and students in just one week.

It serves as a permanent reminder of how a single moment behind the wheel can have life-altering consequences.

The event was attended by students (Image: Coleg Cambria)

Karl Jackson, assistant principal for the Institute of Technology and site lead at Bersham Road, said: “The plinth was built in just a week, that’s the Bersham way.

“It makes you think and it is important for us to capture as many young minds as possible.

“We will be holding events like this twice a year with this as the centrepiece and thank our partners.

“This was constructed as a visual reminder, not about a car going into a wall, it’s the impact of everything that happens after that collision.

“That impact cannot be measured.

“Shock, fear, guilt, even anger.

“We care for our young people, think about the family, the phone call they may receive, or your family.

“An unexpected event can affect so many lives, and we want you to think about that.”

Arrive and Alive is a joint effort between Coleg Cambria, North Wales Police, Wrexham County Borough Council, and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The campaign aims to reduce serious road incidents involving young drivers and encourage safer choices behind the wheel.

Crystal Owen, who lost her 17-year-old son Harvey Owen and three of his friends in a crash in North Wales in 2023, spoke at the event.

She called for the introduction of Graduated Driving Licences (GDL) and shared her family’s personal loss in the hope of making a difference.

Ms Owen said: “We are not trying to scare you out of driving, but to be careful.

“I have never understood grief like this.

“People search for words – heartbreak, grief – none of them come close.

“It is like your life has imploded.

“Children are not supposed to go before their parents.

“What makes it unbearable is knowing this did not have to happen.”

She said that the pain is compounded by knowing the tragedy was preventable, and called on young drivers to recognise that road safety is about protecting lives, not just following rules.

The campaign launch included workshops, talks, and hands-on demonstrations from emergency services and road safety experts.

Students also learned from paramedics and first responders, took part in HGV training, advanced driving workshops, and police practice stops.

Sgt John Prichard of the North Wales Police Roads Crime Unit said: “This is a great initiative to raise awareness and help to educate young people about the importance of staying safe on the roads.

“Sadly, young drivers are much more likely to be involved in road traffic collisions, often due to inexperience and a lack of knowledge on the risks.

“It’s important that new drivers are made aware of their responsibilities and of the devastating consequences that can occur.”