'Hard-working and generous' Wednesbury grandfather killed in trailer tragedy
A scrap metal worker from Wednesbury died when the frame of a lorry trailer he was cutting fell on his head, leaving his family devastated by the loss of the 'hard-working and generous' grandfather.
Self-employed William Price was carrying out the work at a yard owned by ATE Truck and Trailer Sales in Wolverhampton when the accident happened, an inquest at Smethwick Coroners Court heard yesterday.
No-one witnessed what happened, but the hearing was told it was likely the 63-year-old was cutting down the steel structure on the trailer when it collapsed and fell on his head. Jury members concluded his death was an accident. Mr Price, who lived in Westbury Avenue, died from head injuries following the accident on February 21 last year. He had started working from the yard two months earlier following the relocation of his firm, TW Metals.
Today, his wife of seven years, Angela and his daughter Hayley, spoke of their sadness. The pair said Mr Price was an experienced scrap metal worker and was used to 'doing things his way', after it was highlighted during the inquest he had not worn a helmet and did not use a crane. Hayley Price, aged 29, from Wednesfield, said Mr Price was a loving grandfather to her disabled daughter Sophie Johnson, aged three.
Miss Price said: "I remember him being a happy person who had such a positive perspective of life. We were all shocked and saddened by his death."
Mrs Price, aged 54, said: "He was a hard-working and generous man, who was popular and had a good sense of humour."
More than 400 people attended his funeral.
