Man killed in ‘unavoidable’ M60 HGV crash ‘sacrificed his life to save woman he loved’

David Lalgee, 64, died after his car was hit by a HGV after a tyre blowout in Greater Manchester - witnesses described the tragic incident as sounding like a 'bomb explosion'

19:47, 13 Nov 2025

A beloved church pastor tragically lost his life when his car was struck[1] by a HGV following a tyre blowout on the M60.

The lorry experienced an 'uncontrollable sway' to the right and veered across the clockwise lanes of the motorway near Swinton, Salford[2], before smashing through a metal central reservation barrier into oncoming traffic. An inquest revealed that it collided with an electric BMW id5 driven by David Lalgee, 64, with his wife Jo as a passenger.

Mr Lalgee, a grandfather-of-nine, sustained 'catastrophic and unsurvivable' injuries and later died in hospital[3] despite medics' best efforts.

In a heartfelt statement released through the police after the tragic incident, his family said he saved his wife's life by swerving as he saw the lorry approach, absorbing the full force of the impact himself. "In his final moments, David did what he had always done - he put others before himself," they said.

"With incredible bravery, he protected his wife, Jo, placing himself between her and the oncoming lorry that had crossed the central reservation. He took the full impact, sacrificing his life to save the woman he loved."

A coroner stated that 'no criminal act' occurred 'on the part of driving standards'.

The collision in March was deemed 'entirely unavoidable' due to the driver's side tyre blowout, reports the Manchester Evening News[4].

Witnesses compared the sound it made to a bomb exploding, the inquest into his death at Bolton Coroner's Court heard on Thursday. The Volvo tractor unit with a full trailer was being driven by Tracy Carradice back to Morecambe from Immingham, near Lincolnshire.

No defects were discovered on the tyre or wheel prior to the crash, the inquest was told. The HGV had also undergone a service the previous day and police confirmed following an investigation that 'no evidence of pre-existing mechanical defects' were uncovered.

Detective Sergeant Matthew Waggett, from Greater Manchester[5] Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, stated that Ms Carradice's actions were 'in no way contributory' to what occurred.

He explained the crash resulted from a 'chain of events' triggered by the tyre's failure and the subsequent 'uncontrollable response' of the HGV.

The loss of control, the detective continued, was 'irrecoverable' and the HGV came to rest in a field. A police forensic collision investigator also discovered 'nothing that could be attributed to the blowout', such as a bulge in the tyre, a nail or a 'foreign object', the inquest was informed.

Consequently, it remains unknown why the tyre failed. Providing testimony, Ms Carradice, an experienced HGV driver, explained it was a familiar route she had travelled 'everyday for eight years'.

She described hearing a 'big bang' and said the lorry 'violently dropped' to the right. "I was stood on the brake and I was fighting the steering wheel trying to keep it straight," she said, adding that she replays the collision in her mind everyday.

Ms Carradice insisted there was nothing she could have done or should have done differently.

Mr Lalgee, a Scunthorpe native, lived in Mossley, Tameside with his wife. The inquest heard that the couple were planning to relocate to Blackpool and were returning from the town at the time of the incident.

Mr Lalgee, a former police officer and qualified nurse, served as the pastor of Church Alive, an evangelical church in Blackpool. His family remembered him as 'a pillar of love and support to so many'.

His wife described him as 'charismatic, loving and giving' during her statement at the inquest, stating he was someone who 'devoted his time to others'. "His passing was a huge loss to many people," she expressed.

The medical cause of death was identified as 'multiple traumatic injuries consistent with a road traffic collision'.

Coroner Michael Pemberton confessed he had been 'personally touched' by the tragedy, having travelled the same route just 20 minutes prior and learning about the collision later.

After recording a conclusion that Mr Lalgee's death was due to a road traffic collision, he addressed the family: "This is an absolutely tragic case and the loss of David will be felt forever more.

It is clear that he was a dearly-loved father, grandfather and husband who had made a major contribution to society."

He admitted there was 'no realistic explanation that can be offered in terms of why this has happened'. "It is entirely possible that there was something on the road that the tyre was exposed to, but that was never found," added Mr Pemberton.

References

1. ^ car was struck (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ Salford (www.mirror.co.uk)
3. ^ hospital (www.mirror.co.uk)
4. ^ the Manchester Evening News (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
5. ^ Manchester (www.mirror.co.uk)