Micah Maxwell-Milne was killed in a car crash at the Baku 2015 European Games ©Change.org

The family of a British ceremonies production team member tragically killed during a traffic collision at the European Games in Baku last year have launched a petition aimed at encouraging Azerbaijani authorities to improve road safety in the country.

Micah Maxwell-Milne worked for Showstars, a London-based crew company subcontracted by FiveCurrents to work on both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

The 23-year-old was killed after a collision between a Ford Transit and a Mercedes in Heydar Aliyev Prospekti. 

There were three other technicians involved in the same accident who were taken to Turkey with serious injuries.

Micah's mother, Jennifer Maxwell-Milne, has started the petition with the aim of delivering it to Mehriban Aliyeva, the First Lady of Azerbaijan, and Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone ahead of the Baku Grand Prix in June.

"Azerbaijan has the highest proportion of road fatalities per vehicle ratio of any European Country," the petition reads.

"Late night drag racing and reckless driving at high speed is common place in the driving culture and enforcement of traffic rules is inconsistent.

"After Micah's death, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office changed their advice on the dangers of road traffic in Azerbaijan with the support of a senior Scotland Yard Officer who was there as a security advisor for the European Games.

"We want her [Mehriban Aliyeva] to talk with the UK Road Safety experts and get advice on making the same changes that have been made in the UK since the 1980s, these have resulted in road deaths being cut by 40 per cent."

The petition, which currently has 1,516 signatures, can be viewed here.

Austria's Vanessa Sahinovic was left paralysed after the bus crash at the Games
Austria's Vanessa Sahinovic was left paralysed after a bus crash at the Games ©Austrian Olympic Committee

The tragedy came just days after a crash involving three Austrian synchronised swimmers who were hit by a bus while walking through the Athletes' Village before the Opening Ceremony.

Vanessa Sahinovic, now 16, suffered a fracture of the 12th thoracic vertebra and was left paralysed by the incident.

According to the Azerbaijan Press Agency, the bus driver Vali Ahmadov has pleaded guilty in a criminal case regarding the incident.

Huseyn Salamov, department chief of the state road transport service of the ministry of transport, and fellow accused Farid Amiraslanov, have reportedly pleaded not guilty, while Elchin Hasanov pleaded partially guilty.