A FAMILY has suffered a double tragedy after a well-loved 24-year-old was killed in a road crash just six weeks after the sudden death of his mother.

Adam Wilde was a passenger in a car being driven by his father when the accident happened on the A36 at Black Dog Hill near Warminster.

They were on their way to work in Bath where Adam was a service technician for BMW, and his father, Julian, works as a teacher.

The BMW they were travelling in left the road at around 7.30am last Tuesday shortly after overtaking another vehicle.

Adam died at the scene and Julian was airlifted to the Royal United Hospital in Bath suffering from fractured ribs, a broken collarbone and punctured lung.

The accident happened just six weeks after Adam's mother, Maria, 54, was found dead in her bed at the family's home in Lopcombe Corner, near Salisbury.

An inquest will be held to establish the cause of her death.

Popular Adam attended St Osmund's and Test Valley schools before going to Salisbury College. He started an apprenticeship with BMW and had recently passed a series of exams despite the loss of his mother.

"He never got to know he passed them, but he did, even with everything which had gone on," said Adam's partner Samantha Smith, 19.

"He was an expert on BMWs and was passionate about them. People were always asking him things about them and he was very knowledgeable.

"He grew up with BMWs and always wanted to own one."

The couple met while they worked at Woolworths in Salisbury, and had planned their future together.

"Adam was always polite to everyone, respectful and considerate," Samantha added. "He was very romantic and had time for everybody."

In his spare time, Adam enjoyed listening to music, using his computer and spending time with his many friends and brother David and sister Anna.

David, 28, said: "Adam was the ultimate brother. He was polite, patient and understanding of everybody's needs. We are devastated especially as this is so soon after mum died."

Adam's employer, Wellsway BMW, also paid tribute to the service technician, describing him as a "capable young man who had a bright future ahead of him."

In a statement, the company said: "He had a determination to succeed and do well. He was a model apprentice - focused, eager to learn and enthusiastic.

"Everyone at Wellsway will have their own memories of him. He will be sadly missed."

Wiltshire Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash to contact the Roads Policing Unit on 0845 4087000.

  • WILTSHIRE'S roads claimed their fifth victim in a week on Sunday night when a man was killed on the A360.

Police say the driver lost control of a blue Vauxhall Vectra which veered off the road between New Cut Crossroads and Fugglestone Red and collided with a tree.

The man, who was from the Weymouth area, died at the scene of the crash.

No other car was involved.

The road was closed for more than five hours while police carried out a full investigation, and they are asking anyone who saw the car before the collision to call the southern roads policing unit on 01722 435356.