A GRIEVING wife has paid to her loving husband who was killed in a head-on collision in Wilpshire.

Robert Carson, of Brownhill Road, Blackburn, was driving along Whalley New Road, between the Bull’s Head public house and the Wilpshire Hotel, when his car, a Vauxhall Corsa, collided with a Ford Fiesta.

After being cut out of his vehicle by firefighters, the 35-year-old was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital, but passed away shortly after.

His wife Samantha yesterday described the crash as ‘tragic’ and said that Mr Carson, who worked at Darwen manufacturing company WEC Group, was a devoted family man who would be desperately missed.

Mrs Carson said: “Robert was a loving husband, father, son, brother and grandson and due to tragic circumstances has been taken away from us.

“Robert will be sadly missed and the whole of his family is in deep shock.”

A date for Mr Carson’s funeral has not yet been set.

Last night, the male driver of the Focus, who is from Rawtenstall but has not yet been named, was still in a critical condition.

He was also taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital for treatment, but later transferred to the Royal Preston Hospital.

The road was closed for four hours for accident investigators to carry out their work.

Calls are now being made for traffic calming measures to be put in place along the stretch of road to control speed.

Police are appealing for anybody who witnessed the crash to come forward. Call Lancashire Police on 101 or CrimeStoppers on 0800-555-111.