CHIPPENHAM NEWS EXCLUSIVE: A MOTORWAY maintenance worker from Chippenham was killed when a truck crashed through roadworks in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Chris Lewis, 38, of Marshfield Road died in the hit-and-run crash on the M25 while working for Chippenham firm C E Fencing.

An articulated lorry smashed through cones hitting a van before driving away from the accident. Mr Lewis, the father of a one-year-old son, was killed instantly.

Managers at C E Fencing have led tributes to the safety fence installer.

Director John McGuire said: "Chris has been with the company since it started five years ago. He worked with everyone here and was one of the guys.

"He worked all the hours God sent and he played hard too. His wife Kim and son Lawrence often used to drop in his time sheets it is a close-knit company.

"It's tragic what happened, everyone is absolutely gutted. We are making sure his family get all the support possible and our managing director has been spending time with them.

"Chris has done the same job over and over again, it's just a tragic accident. It's not the first time something like this has happened on the motorways and it won't be the last."

A police investigation has been launched and the Health and Safety Executive is conducting an inquiry.

The lorry involved in the crash, which happened near Enfield at 3.50am on Wednesday, has not yet been traced.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "On Wednesday morning we were called to a report of a collision between an articulated lorry and a van on the eastbound stretch of the M25 between the A10 junction and the Holmsdale tunnel.

"A lorry travelling along the eastbound lane followed a diversion marked by cones in the westbound lane.

"As it followed the cones its trailer hit the contractors' van which the deceased was standing near to. This caused the van to hit the victim who was confirmed dead at the scene.

"The articulated lorry failed to stop at the scene. It is described as having a light coloured trailer with dark writing on the side."

Next door neighbour and town mayor Ross Henning said: "I knew Chris for about five years, he was a close friend and a good guy.

"This will be a great shock to people throughout Chippenham who work on the motorways."

Mr Lewis' wife Kim travelled to London on Thursday with staff from C E Fencing.

An inquest into the death and a post mortem examination is due to open at Hornsey today.