City grinds to a halt after taxi driver dies in collisionTHE TAXI driver who died after a head-on collision with an HGV lorry in Truro has been named.
Grandfather Colin Barker, a driver for A2B Taxis, died at the scene of the accident on Tregolls Road shortly after 5.30am on Friday.
The crash between a car and van on the Trafalgar Roundabout just before 12.20pm on Friday.
His partner and colleagues hailed the former soldier from Camborne, as "a big man with a big heart".
The tragic crash was the first of a number of accidents that sparked traffic chaos throughout the city.
The navy blue taxi was not carrying any passengers when Mr Barker was driving up the A390 Tregolls Road.
Sergeant Phil Bullen said: "It was still dark and the road was damp and no other vehicles were involved. It was a frontal-impact collision.
"This is a terrible tragedy for the man's family, friends and work colleagues."
Drivers coming into Truro from the St Austell direction in the morning rush hour were diverted on a single-track road via Pencalenick, where they met drivers heading out of Truro.
This resulted in delays of up to an hour for those travelling in either direction, with traffic at a standstill on the Trafalgar roundabout and the A390 through Tresillian.
Shortly after 8am another crash on the A390 near the Truro park and ride site caused major hold-ups on the other main artery into Truro.
A grey Toyota Aygo went into the central reservation on the main road. Nobody was injured and police said the accident was cleared within 40 minutes.
Another accident on the Trafalgar roundabout involved a black Vauxhall Vectra and a blue Mercedes van shortly after midday.
Both vehicles had to remain in place on Malpas Road while awaiting recovery. Nobody was hurt but traffic backed up from the roundabout in all directions.
Police are appealing for witnesses after a hit-and-run crash in the afternoon at the roundabout outside County Hall.
A woman driving a red Nissan Micra contacted the police after being clipped by a small white car which did not stop.
Tregolls Road was reopened at about 2.40pm.
Inspector Mark Richards, from Truro police, said with any fatal accident the police treat the investigation similar to a major crime scene.
He said: "Photographs have to be taken and tests, assessments and measurements carried out.
"We have to investigate a very serious incident and we must give it the weight it deserves.
"While it may cause inconvenience it's an absolute necessity and we would expect other road users to accept that.
"If they or their relatives were involved I am sure they would expect the same level of consideration."
source: http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/City-grinds-halt-taxi-driver-dies-collision/story-13807766-detail/story.html
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