Town devastated as landlady and friend killed in motorway tragedy

Tributes were today paid to a popular landlady who was killed alongside her friend in a motorway crash.

Barbara Jones had been the landlady of the Wellington Pub in Welshpool for many years.

She was the back seat passenger along with her friend Christine Evans when the Vauxhall car they were travelling in was in collision with a Mercedes van.

The accident happened on the M42 in Warwickshire in the early hours of Friday morning.

Both women were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the car, Ms Jones’ partner Gareth Isaac, and his front seat passenger Graham Davies, escaped with minor injuries.

All four were on the way to an airport to go on holiday, when the van was in collision with the back of the car.

Following the crash, at about 3.20am, the 37-year-old van driver, from Birmingham, was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs. He was released under investigation.

The town has been left in shock at the deaths and tributes have been paid to both of the victims.

County councillor Phil Pritchard, who knew both victims, said they were well known and well respected in Welshpool.

He said: “It is such as terrible thing to have happened, it is extremely sad for the community.

“Barbara was the life and soul of the community around the Wellington Pub.

“She was a very nice woman who ran a very good pub for a very long time at a time when there are not a lot of people to run pubs.”

Councillor Pritchard added: “It is ever so sad for Welshpool, it has hit the town and a community where everyone knows everyone and she will be sadly missed.

“The way it happened, with them going on holiday, makes it even more tragic. My thoughts and condolences just go out to them and their families.”

Another county councillor, Graham Breeze, said the tragedy has badly affected people in the town.

He added: “This is devastating news for Welshpool and has cast a dark shadow over the town.

“I knew both personally – and in fact lived next door to one of the victims for several years.

“It is terribly sad that what should have been the start of a well-earned holiday for one of the victims has ended this way.

“Barbara was a long serving and highly respected licensee and Christine a well-known and well-liked personality.

“My thoughts and condolences go to the families.”

Police said the families of the victims are being assisted by specialist officers and the coroner’s office for Warwickshire confirmed an inquest opening is expected to take place in Leamington on Friday.

Warwickshire Police Inspector Gareth Bridgewater has launched an appeal for anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.

Inspector Bridgewater added: “A thorough investigation continues into the circumstances surrounding the death and as such, we would appeal for anyone who was travelling along that stretch of motorway at the time to come forward.

“Officers are also keen to speak to anyone with dash cam footage of the incident.

“Any information, no matter how small, may be significant in our investigation.”