Father-to-be is killed in crash

A motorcyclist whose girlfriend is expecting their baby in 12 weeks' time was killed in a crash – just hours before he was due to hand the bike to a new owner.

Tom Edwards, aged 23, died at the scene of the crash on the A451 Great Witley to Dunley road, near Stourport, as he rode his black Yamaha motorcycle from work.

Mr Edwards, who already has a three-year-old son, Charlie, had arranged to sell the bike to someone who was due to pick it up that night so he could buy a car for his new family.

Mr Edwards, who had previously worked as a chef, was travelling back from S Fox, a slabbing company at Great Witley, to his home in Lorne Street, Stourport, when he crashed with a Land Rover Discovery travelling in the opposite direction at about 5.20pm on Friday.

He and his girlfriend, 21-year-old Danielle O'Connor, of Croydon, near London, had already chosen the name for their baby – Summer.

Mr Edwards's father, Matthew, aged 50, a warehouse manager, said: "It is ironic that he had sold his bike to get a car instead because his partner is expecting their child.

"The purchaser was due to pick it up at 7pm that night."

Danielle said: "Tom was amazing – he was like nobody I'd ever met before, the life and soul of the party.

An inquest was opened and adjourned yesterday at Worcestershire Coroners Court.

Police are still appealing for witnesses to come forward and call 0300 3333000, quoting 491S 110512.