War hero from Winsford died in Byley after crash with lorry (From Winsford Guardian)

War hero from Winsford died in Byley after crash with lorry

11:28am Tuesday 19th June 2012 in News By David Morgan

A FORMER soldier from Winsford died after he lost control of his car and smashed into a HGV, an inquest has heard.

Greg Young, a steel fixer who was previously in the army for 12 years, was travelling to work at Buchan Concrete Solutions in Byley when he hit a Volvo lorry travelling towards Middlewich.

Neil Smith, a HGV driver for eight years, told the court that he saw Mr Young’s Subaru spinning towards him at a bend in the road in Byley Lane shortly before 6am on September 6, 2011.

He said: “It all happened so quickly. I tried to brake and the next thing there was an almighty bang and then it was all quiet.

“As soon as I got my wits together I knew what had happened. My main concern was getting an ambulance straight away.

“I started panicking. My door was jammed and I had to give it a few kicks to get out.”

Mr Smith, of Shorthorn Close, Middlewich, then flagged down two factory workers in a passing car.

James Messenger, of Meadow View, Middlewich, said he rang emergency services while his friend checked Mr Young’s pulse.

Mr Smith added: “I could hear the ambulance coming from Leighton Hospital but it seemed like a lifetime waiting for it.”

The inquest heard that it was dark at the time and the road was wet but Mr Young, of Kensington Court, Winsford, was familiar with the route.

PC Kevin Sweeney, a collision investigator, said that Mr Smith had insufficient time to react.

He said that the 18 ton HGV was travelling at 25mph while Mr Young’s Subaru was travelling between 40 and 47mph.

The point of impact was on the Middlewich bound lane which caused the car to be pushed back around nine metres.

Mr Young’s family questioned if any other factors - such as reacting to another vehicle - could have contributed to the collision as Mr Young had advanced driving skills.

But Dr Janet Napier, deputy coroner for Cheshire, said it would be impossible to know for sure why he lost control.

Giving evidence, Jason Young said that his brother Greg had received five medals from the army and had served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Kosovo.

He was also making plans to move in with his partner Melaine Farrell-Rhodes.

Dr Napier recorded a verdict that Mr Young died as a result of an accident with the cause of death being multiple injuries.

She said: “It’s incredibly sad. Mr Young was going out early in the morning as he was used to doing. At some point he lost control of his car and we don’t know why.

“He was going fairly fast but not over the speed limit by any means.

“Just at that point there was a HGV coming the other way. The driver had a terrible shock and wasn’t able to do anything.”