A THIRD victim of the A66 crash which left two people dead remains in a serious condition in Newcastle.

The family of Tracey McKeown, 36, of Maryport have confirmed that she is awaiting surgery which cannot be carried out until her condition is stabilised.

Ms McKeown has sustained fractures to the fibia, tibia, shoulder bone and several ribs. Her lungs have collapsed and are filling with fluid.

A spokesman for the family said: “Staff at the Royal Victoria Infirmary are working to stabilise her before undertaking surgery to heal her fractures.

“She is in a serious condition. It was first reported that she had been taken to the Cumberland Infirmary with non-life threatening injuries. In fact she was taken to Carlisle and transferred to the RVI in Newcastle soon after.

“Her family has been told that it would be too dangerous to carry out surgery before her lungs are functioning properly,” said the spokesman.

She said she also understood that a fourth person — a male — had sustained a fractured skull in the crash.

Emergency services were called to the collision on the A66/A595 Fitz roundabout near Cockermouth, which involved a Ford S Max and a tractor, at 5.50am on Saturday.

Two people died at the scene. Shaun Milburn, 34, of Maryport, a father-of-eight, and Michelle Pattinson, 42, from Workington, who had six children.

The tractor driver was a 20-year-old from the Cockermouth area, who was treated for minor injuries.

The families of the two deceased have paid tribute to their loved ones this week. Mr Milburn’s wife, Shareen, said: “Shaun was a loving and overprotective father to eight children, aged between 17 years and one year old.

“Shaun was my best friend, my number one man. He was such a caring and loyal husband, who came from a big family of seven brothers and one sister.

“Shaun was the life and soul of the party, he enjoyed life to the full. He leaves a big hole in all our hearts and he will never be forgotten. We all love you, babes.”

Ms Pattinson’s family said: “Rest in peace Michelle. A loving mother of six beautiful children, and sister of Wendy, Wayne, Dawn and Gemma. A devoted auntie to Iona, Jason, Chelsea, Hunter and Layton.

“Sadly gone, but forever loved and missed.”