The A458 Welshpool road was closed at Bicton Heath after the accident

A 69-year-old man died in a freak accident when he was struck by a set of traffic lights just seconds after a vehicle collided with them on a Shropshire road.

David Evans died after he was hit by the traffic lights in Welshpool Road, Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury, yesterday afternoon. The accident happened just a week before his 70th birthday.

Today the family of the grandfather-of-two, of Gains Avenue, in Bicton Heath, described him as a “fantastic man who was always cheerful”.

Police said a white Volvo goods vehicle, which was towing a catering trailer, collided with the traffic lights before they struck Mr Evans.

Emergency services resuscitated him at the scene following the incident, which happened at about 4.35pm, before taking him to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital where he later died.

Unselfish

Today Mr Evans’ wife Gail, 64, said her husband had just left the nearby Vets 4 Pets to pay a bill for an injection for their dog Holly.

She said: “I can’t believe it has happened. He was a fantastic man. He never moaned or complained.”

The couple’s only child Anthony, 37, said: “He was probably the most unselfish man I have ever met. Nothing was too much trouble for him, especially when it was down to his two granddaughters Gracie and Isobel.”

Mr Evans was born in Monkmoor, Shrewsbury, and after completing his national service with the RAF in the late 1950s to early 1960s he worked in engineering in the town.

He started his own firm, Precision Engineering, more than 12 years ago and it made tools and engineering equipment for industrial firms.

Following yesterday’s collision, part of Welshpool Road was closed for four hours.

The Coroner for Mid and North Shropshire, Mr John Ellery, has been informed.

Witnesses can call 0300 3333000.

By John Kirk