A SECOND fatal crash on the A49 Hereford to Ross road has left a seven-year-old without the father who had been bringing him up.

Joseph Mayers, aged 36, died last Thursday following a crash between the Renault Clio he was driving and a lorry at around 11am.

This was just 13 days after a 24-year-old man called Ian Wemyss died following a crash less than a mile away in Much Birch.

Mr Mayers, who died at the scene, was a single parent and was bringing up his seven-year-old son, Cameron, in Much Dewchurch.

The crash between the A466 turn and Much Birch village closed the A49 until around 6am the following morning as Highways England worked to recover the lorry from an embankment.

Mr Mayers' dad, Christopher, said: "Joe was a very colourful boy. His nickname was Smiler. That is the sort of impression everyone had of him.

"He was a very hardworking lad and a very determined lad- for him to be able to get over the problems he had ten or 12 years ago to come out the other end with a lovely boy and holding a good job down. It is such a shame something like this happened."

Mr Mayers senior, together with his partner Amanda Kendrick, are now looking to take on the care of Cameron.

Joseph Mayers grew up in the Whitecross area of Hereford and went to Whitecross School.

His mum, Monica, died from cancer when he was a teenager. Mr Mayers senior said this had a bearing on his son's life and not long afterwards he moved to Paignton and worked as a share fisherman for Browse Brothers for about eight years.

He said: "He had a drug problem for a while. With support from people, we got him off the drugs. He has been totally clean for just over five years. He was on hard medication- it was a real fight. We were all very proud of him to be able to come off the heavy medication."

Over the past two years he had been a speaker at charity-run meetings on a Friday night in Gloucester and Hereford to help people who were suffering with drug addiction.

He had worked at Sainsbury's in Hereford for about three years.

Mr Mayers senior said: "He was a really bubbly character and did all sorts for everybody.

"It was all working out very well for him really and then something like this happens. We are all a bit numb."

He added: "Seeing those flowers just 100 yards up just tells you it is a very dangerous road."

Store Manager, Mark Hankin, at Sainsbury’s in Hereford said: “Joseph was a valued member of our team and hugely popular in the store. “He was a pleasure to work with - always friendly and keen to help colleagues and customers. “We will miss him very much and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very sad time.”

Herefordshire councillor for the Birch ward, David Harlow, said the safety of the stretch of the road is a huge concern for himself and his ward members.

He said the road is managed by Highways England and he is seeking a meeting with the authority to discuss what can be done to make the road safer.

The lorry driver did not require hospital treatment.

No arrests have been made and police are appealing for witnesses. Call the non-emergency number 101.