Riley Howard Williams

THE family of a devout Mormon lorry driver who was killed instantly when his cab collided with a bus said he was not afraid to die.
Riley Howard Williams, 45, of Woodside, Clayton Brook, near Preston, died when his seven-and-a-half ton Leyland DAF goods vehicle crashed into a double decker 126 Stagecoach bus, which was on its way from Preston to Chorley.
The accident happened at 2pm on December 8 close to his home on Tramway Lane, an inquest at Preston Coroner's Court heard yesterday.
Mr Williams had lived in Clayton Brook for a number of years after moving there from Chorley.
His mum Patricia Brown said: "He liked travelling, loved driving and was crazy about computers. He could do anything with them.
"The last time I saw him he was home for the weekend and whenever he came home, he would be out at people's homes fixing their computers.
"But last time he spent the whole weekend with me and it was wonderful. It is a great comfort. He was not afraid to die. Mormons are not afraid to die."
His sister Josephine Clegg said: "He was his own person. His life may have been cut short early but he really did what he wanted to do. He was a devout Mormon for 20 years. I will always remember him for his dry sense of humour. When he was young he was a real trickster."
The inquest heard that Mr Williams, was employed by an independent agency when the accident occurred. He had been travelling down Tramway Lane, close to where it passes under the M65 motorway, when his wagon swerved on to the opposite side of the road, into the path of the bus driver, 56-year-old James Dickinson, from Chorley. The cab was torn open by the impact, killing Mr Williams instantly.
Mr Dickinson said: "I was going down the hill on Tramway Lane approaching the bend and without warning a wagon just came on to my side of the road.
"I braked and swerved to avoid him but I couldn't. I think he started to swerve to avoid me but he crashed into the offside of my bus."
A post mortem examination revealed Mr Williams had died from multiple injuries including a broken leg, broken ribs, a broken arm and a lacerated liver.
Lancashire Coroner Dr James Adeley recorded a verdict of accidental death.