TRIBUTES have been paid to a rugby referee killed in a car crash while he was on his way to Sixways.
David Smith, from Sutton Benger in Wiltshire, died after his black Volkswagen Golf collided with a black Jaguar on Pershore Lane near junction 6 of the M5 about 2.20pm on Saturday (October 12).
Two ambulances, a paramedic area support officer, two Midlands Air Ambulances, police and fire crews attended the incident to find Mr Smith trapped in his car.
Sadly he suffered a cardiac arrest and died at the scene.
The driver of the Jaguar, a 59-year-old man, sustained numerous injuries and had to be cut free by fire crews before being taken by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
The road was closed for several hours while emergency crews worked to free the men and clear the wreckage causing long delays in the area.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived to find two cars which had been involved in a significant collision.
“One man was trapped in the wreckage in one car and was in a serious condition. Whilst ambulance crews began treating the man his condition deteriorated and he went into cardiac arrest.
“Ambulance staff worked as a team to administer advanced life support in an attempt to resuscitate the man. Sadly, despite the best efforts of ambulance crews and the medic, nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”
Mr Smith, who was president of the Somerset County Rugby Football Union (SCRFU), was on his way to be an assessor at the National Three South West match between Worcester Wanderers and Newton Abbot at Sixways when the crash occurred.
A statement on the Somerset Rugby Referees’ Society which Mr Smith was also a member of said: “David has been a member of the society for many years as a referee, assessor and committee member.
“He devoted his leisure hours to rugby and in particular referee development.
“It is through his hard work as the Society Exchange secretary that with careful thought of what referee should officiate at what game that the Society has been successful in the progression of its members.
“David was a member of the County Management Committee and had recently been accepted onto the RFU National Disciplinary Committee, of which he was extremely proud.
“David will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Our condolences go out to his family.”
Anyone who witnessed or believes they may have information about the crash is asked to call police officers in Worcester on 101 or 0300 333 3000.
