Tributes have been paid to a ‘big hearted’ former Merchant Navy cook who died after swerving to avoid a car before crashing into a stationary van, as police said a 65-year-old woman had been arrested.
John Edward Carr, 68, is said to have tried to avoid a Nissan Micra before colliding with a van waiting at traffic lights, during the incident in Merseyside on Friday morning.
Emergency services were called to the scene in New Brighton, at about 11.30am, Merseyside Police said.
Mr Carr, from New Brighton, was taken to hospital in a critical condition, but later died.
Following inquiries, a 65-year-old woman, from Wallasey, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision, police said.
She was taken to a police station for questioning and has since been released under investigation.
The van driver stopped at the scene and is assisting officers with their inquiries.
Mr Carr’s family paid tribute to him as ‘one of the kindest, funniest, most open-minded people you could meet’.
Cyclist John Edward Carr, 68, from New Brighton, Merseyside, died after swerving to avoid a car before hitting a stationary van
The collision occurred on Friday morning in Rowson Street in New Brighton. Police have arrested a a 65-year-old woman on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision
They added: ‘He had such a big heart and he never really lost that childlike sense of wonder.
‘He could find joy in the simplest things, including staying up far too late playing golf games on his VR headset, or chuckling away at silly YouTube videos.
‘He spent 27 years working as a cook in the Merchant Navy and had so many wild and hilarious stories from his life.
‘He would never fail to make us laugh or look out for us and he always loved us unconditionally.
‘We still can’t understand how he has been taken from us so suddenly. It doesn’t feel real.
‘We don’t want him to just become another headline. He was a real person. He was loved and he mattered.’
Detective Sergeant Kurt Timpson, the lead investigating officer from Merseyside Police’s serious collision investigation unit, said in a statement prior to Mr Carr being named: ‘First and foremost, my thoughts and those of my team are with the man’s family at this desperately sad time.
‘For someone to lose their life on the road is tragic and my priority now is to get answers for his family.
‘Although a woman was later traced and arrested, we are still keen to gather as much dashcam and other footage as possible.
‘Please check any devices and come forward if you live, work or were passing the area around the time of the collision.
‘Front and rear dashcams can often capture vital evidence without the driver being aware. Please review those devices and if you can help, get in touch with our team.
‘Any help we receive, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could be vital as we build a picture of what happened.
‘I also want to thank the members of the public who rushed to help the man as he lay injured. It’s often the case that we see the very best of human nature after such distressing events.’
Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police via social media, through the force website or by calling 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
