Wife pays tribute to M40 victim

Ross Shears was travelling home from a family reunion in Oxford

The wife of a man who died in a crash on the M40 in Oxfordshire has paid tribute to her "gentle giant".

Ross Shears, 28, from Crowborough, East Sussex, was a passenger in a blue Ford Fiesta which collided with a white Ford Transit van near Thame on 12 July.

The van failed to stop at the scene and the car went down an embankment. Two people were arrested after the crash.

Leah Shears, 25, thanked motorists who stopped to help and emergency personnel who fought to save her husband.

Mrs Shears said: "Ross was a gentle giant who loved people and people loved him."

She said he was an enthusiastic pool player, participated in the local amateur dramatic society and managed his local White Hart football team.

"Everyone who ever met Ross always took to him and he said the happiest day of his life was our wedding day," she added.

"Words can't express the massive void Ross' death has left behind for me, our family and our friends."

'Watched helplessly'

Mr Shears was travelling home with his wife and mother to East Sussex after attending a family reunion in Oxford, when they crashed between junction seven and six of the M40.

"I would like to thank the motorists who stopped to help, especially the two off-duty firefighters who did their best and administered first aid at the crash site," Mrs Shears said.

"Also, the ambulance, fire service and especially the air ambulance personnel, all of whom fought to release Ross from the wreckage and save his life, as I watched on helplessly."

Mr Shears' mother remains in hospital with serious injuries.

A 24-year-old man, of no fixed address, was held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, drink-driving, failing to stop, driving while disqualified and possession of class A drugs.

A 25-year-old woman, from Oxford, was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving, failing to stop and theft.

The woman remains in custody, while the man was released on bail.