UK contractor 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 Wednesday morning, 13 February.
Caroline Blackman speaking at a Hinkley Point C Inspire Programme event on women in construction and engineering, March 2016 (EDF)
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 A$4.3bn Pacific Highway Woolgoolga to Ballina (W2B) highway upgrade project in Australia.
Police have appealed for witnesses, saying the collision happened on the A369 Martcombe Road near Bristol.
"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."
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 projects.
"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."
Comments
Comments are closed.
Such a tragic, shocking accident.All our thoughts are with her family and her LO’R friends and colleagues. I knew her well when I worked with Ray at T5 and later during my time on the Olympic programme. A thought provoking, inspirational lady who showed such immense interest in the development and wellbeing of all in our great industry.
We at Floreat Consulting were all shocked and saddened to hear of Caroline’s death. We got to know her in the late 90s when she joined us at Potentia International as a consultant. Her lively and positive style was a great creative help in developing the business and of course it led to her working for Laing O’Rourke, first as a consultant and then as a manager. Our sincere condolences to her family. Jane, Heather, John, Hugh and Dena
I have great memories of working with Caroline during a leadership project for the CLM Olympic Construction Consortium. She was always, calm, strong, supportive and immensely helpful towards me. As well as her dedication to work I recall she was highly committed to her family and my thoughts are with them. A sad loss.