A former girlfriend of Eastern Bypass crash victim Howard Hillsdon is collecting signatures calling for barriers to be installed there -- claiming he would still be alive if roads bosses had acted earlier.

The scene of the crash on Oxford's Eastern Bypass which killed Howard Hillsdon

Yesterday (Wed) 13-year-old Aiden Wood became the second crash survivor to return home after 18 days in hospital. His father Julian backed the call for crash barriers.

Graduate Laura East, 22, of Headington, dated Mr Hillsdon for a month before his death and started her petition at the Natural World shop, Magdalen Street, on Sunday.

Already 150 shoppers have pledged support and hundreds more have signed petitions in shops, leisure centres and pubs across the city.

Miss East said: "Howard's life could have been saved had there been a barrier. I hope these petitions work, but it seems like we've had to wait for a fatality first.

"People have been signing the petition and were shocked to hear there wasn't a barrier there."

The couple dated for four weeks but split up just days before the accident on May 28, which also killed 13-year-old boys Marshall Haynes, Liam Hastings and Josh Bartlett.

She said: "We just clicked really quickly. We were together for a short time but I'm glad I had that time. I was lucky." Mr Hillsdon's funeral was being held at St Bartholomew's Church, Yarnton, today.

The petition, calling for a crash barrier and street lighting, was set up by Adrian Bull, of Littlemore, and his mother Joy, four years after he survived a crash on the same spot as the fatal crash. It is backed by Oxford East MP Andrew Smith.

Last night, Aiden Wood returned home to his family in Normandy Crescent in Cowley. The teenager from Peers School has lost the sight in one eye.

His father, Julian Wood, backed calls for crash barriers to be installed.

He said: "I think the petitions are great, I would sign one. It should have been done years ago.

"But I can't believe the council is talking about £30 a metre to pay for the crash barrier. You can't buy a life. I feel like we are one of the lucky ones, but no money will replace those children.

"I just want him to come home so we can get through it together."

Oxford Academy youth team footballer Conor Hunt, 12, returned home last week and Jake Proper is said to be progressing well at the JR while Anton Dublin and his mother Angela are both stable in hospital.

Petitions can be signed at the John Radcliffe Hospital, the Bullnose Morris pub in Blackbird Leys, the Co-op in Headington, the Covered Market and the John Lloyd Sports Centre in Cowley, among others.

The petitions will be handed over to the county council on Tuesday.