8:20am Monday 30th June 2008
By Gina Marden
TRIBUTES have been paid to a Good Samaritan who died on the A13 yesterday.
Danny Missons, 44, of Dickens Avenue, Tilbury, was crossing the carriageway on the London-bound track, near to the Five Bells Roundabout, at 5am yesterday when he was hit by a motorcycle.
Mr Missons lived with his mum Dorothy, 74, and brother Peter, 35, in Dickens Avenue, Tilbury.
Peter paid tribute to his brother, a father of two, saying he died a hero as he was trying to help the victims of another crash.
He said: "We loved him dearly.
"In our eyes he was a hero because he crossed the road to make sure the person in the car after a crash was OK.
"He will be greatly missed by us all."
Mr Missons, leaves two children, Carly-Ann, 20, and Daniel, 16, as well as three brothers, Peter, Del, 50, Fred 34, and twin sister Debbey, 44.
He also leaves girlfriend Jane Froskew, 39.
Road closed following smash
Drivers faced huge queues after the road was closed in both directions for five-and-a-half hours and traffic was diverted on to the A127.
The initial accident happened when the driver of a red Vauxhall Corsa lost control of the car and crashed into the central reservation on the Southend-bound track of the carriageway, near the Five Bells roundabout in Basildon, at about 5am yesterday.
The people in the car, two men and a woman, were unhurt and began walking to the roundabout to raise the alarm.
About ten minutes later Mr Missons was knocked down crossing the road, it is believed, to check the people involved were alright.
Ambulance crews raced to the scene and took the rider, who was thrown from his bike, to Basildon Hospital, where he is now fighting for his life.
Traffic police closed the carriageway in both directions while crash investigators examined the scene. Wreckage of the motorbike was later removed from the scene by a recovery lorry.
Police investigating the crash are now appealing for information, and want to talk to two drivers who may be crucial witnesses.
Kim Perks, of Essex Police, said: "Police particularly want to trace the drivers of two vehicles who are believed to have driven past at the time of the crash. They may have vital witness information.
"It is possible the cars were a Ford Focus and a Vauxhall Astra. It is also possible the Astra was blue."
The Southend-bound carriageway reopened at 9.20am and the London-bound track was reopened at 10.40am.
Witnesses to the crash can contact police on 01268 541312 or 0300 3334444.
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