Tributes paid to lorry driver killed on M4

Grundon staff "devastated" by loss of long-serving driver

TRIBUTES have been paid to a Beenham man who was killed when the skip lorry he was driving collided with an articulated lorry and two cars on the M4 on Wednesday.

Trevor Hazzard, of Stoneyfields, Beenham, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics who rushed to the incident which occurred on the eastbound carriageway near Junction 12 at Theale.

Mr Hazzard, a keen fisherman, was driving a skip-loader for the waste firm Grundon, which has released a statement expressing the company's sadness at the news.

It read: “The Grundon Management and staff are devastated by the sudden death of one of their long serving drivers in a road traffic accident on Wednesday.

“A company director has visited the driver's family to pass on their condolences.

“Grundon is working closely with the police to identify the cause of the accident.”

The crash caused widespread delays as the motorway was shut in one direction for almost six hours from 12.15pm.

The Junction 12 entry-slip was also closed immediately as police, ambulance, fire, air ambulance and heavy rescue unit crews swamped the scene to clear up the debris.

Followers of the Newburytoday.co.uk Twitter account @newburytoday, who were sitting in the stationary traffic, said that up to 20 emergency services vehicles could be counted at the crash site in the aftermath.

The driver of a Kia involved in the collision, thought to be an elderly male, was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, as a precaution.

No one else involved in the collision required hospital treatment.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information which may help with the investigation is asked to contact Sgt Steve Blackburn on 0845 8505505 or anonymously on 0800 555111.

If you would like to pay tribute to Mr Hazzard, email mark.taylor@newburynews.co.uk or telephone 01635 564532.