Victim named as police trace lorry driver over A49 fatal collision
Police have traced a lorry they believe was involved in a fatal road collision with a cyclist on the A49 near Shrewsbury.
The body of a 61-year-old man was found in the early hours of Monday morning by a tractor driver.
Today he was named by police as Michael John Saunders.
Mr Saunders had been returning from his place of work in Church Stretton to his home in Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury at the time of the incident.
Initially accident investigators thought he had been clipped from behind as he made his way along the A49.
West Mercia Police officers from Shropshire travelled to South Wales today to interview a 39-year-old lorry driver.
Mr Saunders died on a stretch of road between Leebotwood and Dorrington.
He had set off from his place of work at around 3.30am on Monday and his body was found on a grass verge by a passing tractor driver shortly before 5am.
A police investigation was launched and an appeal issued for witnesses who spotted the cyclist travelling along the the A49.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson, the officer leading the investigation, said: "We have identified a lorry which we believe was involved in this incident.
"The driver is currently helping us with our inquiries and being interviewed in South Wales.
"The vehicle was traced following extensive work at the scene, with CCTV and through other inquiries. We are also liaising closely with South Wales Police."
He added that the cyclist has yet to be formally identified but his family are being kept informed of developments.
A post mortem was conducted by a Home Office pathologist yesterday and an inquest will be opened by the Shropshire coroner in due course.
The accident was one of three to happen on Shrewsbury's roads in less than 24 hours.
On Saturday a grandmother from Hanwood died on the B50561 at Uckington. She was named as Glenda Anita Crump, 61. Her 10-year-old unnamed grandson was in the car with her at the time of the crash and sustained serious injuries.
And on Tuesday, a 27-year-old from Montford Bridge was killed on the B5067 Berwick Road. He had been named locally as Shaun Stealey.
