Roundtabler dies in crash

Gary Pearce, 35, died on Tuesday after a pile up involving three high-performance cars on the B4069 Chippenham to Lyneham road.

Mr Pearce had lived with his wife Gina in the village of Christian Malford for nine years. The couple had a son, Jules.

He was born in the Forest Hill area of London in September 1966.

He was an active member of Chippenham Roundtable and also enjoyed an active life and could often be found on the golf course at Bowood.

He was looking forward to a well-earned holiday in Barbados next week.

His parents, David and Maureen, live in Kington Langley.

Gina Pearce said of her husband: "Gary will be remembered as a jovial and well liked member of the community. He will be sadly missed by all."

Man dies in three-car crash but two escape burning car

A MAN was killed after a three-car smash involving three high performance cars on the B4069 Chippenham to Lyneham road near Christian Malford on Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters fought to free Gary Pearce, 35, from the wreckage of his Porsche 911, but he died at the scene.

The accident happened at 2.45pm outside Home Farm, a short distance from Mr Pearce's home in The Hawthorns, Station Road, Christian Malford.

Police believe a blue TVR spun off the road on a bend, and a BMW swerved to avoid the car, but collided with the Porsche.

A father and son in the BMW, who are from Swindon, suffered minor injuries and managed to escape from the car before it burst into flames. It was totally destroyed.

The TVR driver, a 30-year-old RAF man from Bath, was unhurt.

The accident happened on the winding road between Christian Malford and a location known locally as Lyneham Banks.

The BMW was travelling towards Lyneham. The other two cars were travelling towards the village of Christian Malford.

Mr Pearce, who worked with Reuters in London, and his wife Gina, had recently put their house on the market.

Mrs Carol Candy who lives near Home Farm, 200 yards from where the accident happened, said she and her family had seen quite a few serious accidents on the stretch of road, but she said the latest crash was the worst.

"I had just got back from town and wasn't aware there had been an accident until we heard and saw the emergency vehicles," said Mrs Candy.

She said she was among a number of residents who had complained to the parish council about the dangerous and impractical 60mph speed limit.

Fellow neighbour Jane Moore of Springstone House, said her 24-year-old daughter Sharon Barford was at home alone when the accident happened within feet of their garden.

"The people from Home Farm were first on the scene. Sharon also called an ambulance.

"We have been in the village for 11 years and this is perhaps one of the worst crashes. It is tragic," said Mrs Moore.

Chippenham fire station sub officer, Julian Hancock said: "When we arrived one car was engulfed in flames, and one person was trapped in the second car.

"Paramedics were treating one injured person very close to the burning car, so our firefighters set up a spray to provide protection from the flames.

"They put the fire out then assisted in cutting the trapped person free from the car, so they could be taken to hospital."

The accident was witnessed by two MOD police officers.

Wiltshire police are appealing for more witnesses and want to talk to the driver of a red estate car and two tanker drivers.

PC Andy Fortune said: "The red car and the two tankers were seen travelling towards Christian Malford. One tanker may have been making a delivery to Home Farm.

"We need to talk to anyone who can help us with anything they might have seen before and after the accident."

Freak accident badly injures bus driver

BUS driver, Nigel Allen, 49, is fighting for his life after an accident which forced him to swerve into a field in Chippenham.

The 17-seater Fosseway Coaches bus, which was carrying 11 passengers, including five children aged between 18 months and four years, was travelling along the A4 from Chippenham to Bath just after midday on Tuesday.

About half a mile from the Sainsbury's roundabout towards Corsham, at a location known as Chequers Hill, police believe an object, which was hanging from a flatbed transit truck, struck the minibus. The bus skidded and crashed into a field, smashing into a tree.

Sgt Chris Moore, of Corsham Traffic said: "We believe something may have come off or was hanging off the transit vehicle and struck the bus which then lost control."

Mr Allen from Chapmanslade, near Warminster, battled to keep the vehicle on the road but it swerved dangerously through a wooden fence, down a slight bank and crashed into a tree.

The fire crew from Chippenham was despatched at 12.20pm to get the driver out of the bus. The road was closed for almost six hours and traffic diverted.

Sub officer Julian Hancock said: "He was not physically trapped but the height of the bus meant the crew had to take out the back window to release him."

The bus was stabilised and the man was airlifted to Royal United Hospital in Bath with major chest and neck injuries.

His condition in the intensive care unit yesterday was described as critical but stable.

Justin Pickford, general manager of Fosseway Coaches in Chippenham said his thoughts and those of colleagues were with the driver.

"We ended up last night believing he was dead, everyone did. We were then relieved to hear that he was still alive and in the hospital. We are hoping he will be alright and we are pleased that all the other passengers walked away," said Mr Pickford.

The passengers escaped serious injury, although some were treated for minor cuts and bruises and shock at the scene and at Chippenham Community Hospital.

The driver of the truck, Tim Gough, from Pinehurst, Swindon, was interviewed by police and is deeply shocked and upset.

Mr Gough had been working for Speedy Hire Centre for eight months. The firm's managing director Barry Gallihawk said: "Straightaway we ordered a review of all devices and equipment used, even without definite information about the accident.