Fellow workers and staff at Rustler Produce Ltd in Fenton Way were very "subdued" in the wake of the accident, which claimed the lives of Peterborough-based workers Jose Marmeleria (49), Carlos Condeco (46) and Cidalina de Oliveira (56).

They died when the red Hyundai Lantra car in which they were travelling was involved in a crash at about 5.40am on Wednesday.

Miraculously, driver Jose's son, Miguel (19), managed to get out of a passenger window and was taken to hospital.

Also involved was a blue Vauxhall Cavalier car driven by a 31-year-old man from Peterborough who was originally arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving but has since been bailed to report back to police on April 5.

The Cavalier ended up on the river bank close to the water's edge and police say a passer-by took the driver to Peterborough District Hospital. They are appealing for this passer-by to come forward.

A third vehicle involved was a Volvo skip lorry driven by a 36-year-old man from Peterborough who escaped unhurt.

Sgt Steve Edwards wants to hear from anyone who saw the three vehicles prior to the crash or who witnessed the accident. He can be called on 0845-456-4564.

The Chatteris factory was aware there had been an accident as some workers went past the scene on their way to work.

One worker, Paulo Barros, was standing by the bankside anxiously waiting as emergency services – including a specialist diving team – recovered the bodies of his friends.

Andrew Burgess, agronomy director with a Yaxley-based sister company of Rustler, said he supports any action which can be taken along the road.

"I have driven along it for 20 years," he said, adding many of the workers use that road.

"Everyone was very subdued. It was a black day on Wednesday and our thoughts are with the victims' families."

Mr Burgess said the employees had worked with the company for over a year.

"We support anything that can be done to try and make that road a safer place. Most of our workers use it," he said.

This is the second recent tragedy along this road. Just before Christmas Chatteris dad Dean Hawes (27) and his seven-year-old son Jordan died when their car went into the Forty Foot at Ramsey.

Since then there have been many calls for action and better safety along the river road.

A spokesman for Cambs County Council said it is working closely with police in their investigation into the cause of Wednesday's accident.

"We continue to review road safety of all roads throughout the county and will look again at this road but its particular problems with regard to the bank, soil and being close to the river, are well known," said the spokesman.

He added: "All the suggestions for road safety schemes and traffic protection have their own problems.

"There is a 50 mph limit on the road which is regularly ignored."

*Reader Diane Holden, who lives in Doddington and regularly uses the Forty Foot Road, pleads for action in a letter to the Citizen this week.

Her plea went out to Cambs County Council. She wrote to Public Platform: 'The public is crying out to you – please do something about it.'

Over 100 people have signed a petition at Benwick post office and stores calling for improved safety along the road.
Postmistress Donna Dwane said several people came into the High Street shop specially to sign the petition after reading about it in last week's March edition of the Citizen.

Donna instigated the petition through concern at the number of deaths on the road. As a relative newcomer to the Fens, Donna was "horrified" to learn of both recent and past tragedies.

The petition and our special 'Forty Foot Action Plea' coupons will be presented tomorrow (Thursday) to council chiefs.

The Citizen has been invited by Cambs County Council to meet with head of road safety Russell de Ville to talk about the road and look at some of the ideas for improvements suggested by YOU. See our story on Page 15.

So far, almost 100 action plea coupons have been completed.