A YOUNG engineer from Melksham died following a collision near Westbury on Friday.

Officers were called to the crash on the Hawkeridge Road shortly after midday on January 10.

Police later said a Volkswagen Golf had crossed the carriageway and collided with a lorry whilst negotiating a right-hand bend.

The driver of the Golf – a man aged 25 from the Melksham area – died at the scene. He is understood to be Dalian Ashley Ward, a former pupil at George Ward School in Melksham.

Mr Ward, who was known as ‘Dill’ by his family and friends, had only started a new job last September working as a CNC machinist for a Westbury engineering company.

He is believed to have been travelling home from work when the accident occurred.

The family of Mr Ward, a single man with a girlfriend, later turned his Facebook profile into a page for remembrance, saying: “We hope people who love Dill will find comfort in visiting his profile to remember and celebrate his life.”

His friend Sophie Perkins, 26, from Trowbridge, also posted a heartbreaking message on social media, saying how much she loved him.

Police said: “His next of kin have are being supported by a specially-trained family liaison officer. Our thoughts and condolences are with them at this difficult time.”

The driver of the lorry – a man in his 50s from Chippenham - suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital.

A section of the B3097 Hawkeridge Road was closed between the roundabout for the West Wilts Trading Estate to the roundabout for Phillips Way while the crash was investigated.

HGV drivers were told there was no access to get on or off the trading estate because of the 7.5-tonne weight restriction on Station Road.

As a result, Phillips Way was packed with HGVs which had pulled over on both sides of the road because they were trapped until the accident scene was cleared.

Peter Sammons, a partner of Myddelton & Major, the estate managers, said: “We didn’t notice any significant disruption or tailback on the trading estate.”

More than 200 companies are located on the estate. Their employees were urged to use alternative routes to get home.

Police urged any witnesses to the collision who have not yet spoken to officers to call 101 and quote log number 110 of January 10.

They added: “We would also like to speak to anyone who was in the area who may have dash cam footage of the incident. Please call 101.”