Biker named by family after fatal crash in Walsall
A motorcyclist who died in a crash with a lorry in Walsall has been named by his family as Barry Middlebrook.
Mr Middlebrook, known as 'Bazzy' by his loved ones, was described as a 'diamond in the rough' by his step-daughter Natty Blewitt Cash online.
The grandfather, aged in his 60s, died at the scene on Birmingham Road yesterday after he struck the central reservation and then was hit by a lorry.
The collision took place near The Bell pub at around 5.30pm
Ms Cash said her mother, who was Mr Middlebrook's partner, rushed to the scene after his 'GPS stopped working on his phone'.
In a Facebook post, Ms Cash wrote "there are no words to really say how loved and missed you are."
She said: "Mon night Bazy turned up after work because he'd mended the parts to my wheelchair and we were having a laugh, Momsy phoned because she knew he'd be here while we got another wheelchair fixed up.
"Then last night I had a phone call off my mom screaming that Baz had died, I was trying desperately to make out words but she said his GPS stopped moving on his phone and she knew, I came on [Facebook] and tried to find accidents in the area but she jumped in her car and when she headed toward where his phone said he was she abandoned the car and ran, out of breath screaming I must be with him.
"She loved him so very much she felt it without being told."
She added: "Baz was a very hard working family man, someone that loved all his family.
"He loved his motorbikes, he had a great love of his garden and birds.
"He loved his holidays but most of all he loved Momsy. The two of them enjoyed the simple things in life, get-togethers with family and friends in their garden and of course he was king of his BBQ and knew mine had to have extra burnt bits on the side!
"He will be deeply missed he was a father to Stacey and a step-father to me, a Grandad, brother and uncle.
"The tragic accident by The Bell pub on his motorcycle last night took his life but he will be remembered forever as a good hardworking family man.
"I will miss him forever and there just is no Momsy without Bazy they were truly soulmates and I have no one to moan at me about using the right wheelchairs in the right places, he was a diamond in the rough and will be missed by many.
"His favourite song Ozzy see you on the other side and we sure will, Goodnight Godbless Bazy there are no words to really say how loved and missed you are and to all the world you may be another man but to us you are the world."
Police are asking anyone who saw the incident, or has dash cam footage, to get in touch with them by emailing FL_COLLISION_INVEST@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
