A MAN who died in the horrific road crash near Warrington this morning has been named as former soccer international Jlloyd Samuel who had lived in Lymm for some time.
It is believed he was returning home after taking his children to school at High Legh when his Range Rover was in collision with a van.
His vehicle burst into flames and, despite the efforts of a local man who smashed the vehicle’s windows in an attempt to get him out, he died in the flames.
Samuel played for Trinidad and Tobago but in this country spent nine years with Aston Villa and also played for Bolton Wanderers.
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and former national teammates has sent “deepest condolences” to his family members in this country and in Trinidad and Tobago.
The crash occurred around 8am today in West Lane, High Legh, close to the border with Lymm.
Mr Samuel’s Range Rover was engulfed in flames and the other vehicle, a van, ended up on its side.
Emergency services were called to the scene and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the blaze with two hose reel jets.
But before they arrived, a local man had attempted to rescue Mr Samuel.
He said: “I was on the scene within two minutes of the crash occurring and smashed the windows of the blazing vehicle in an attempt to get the occupant out. I could not even see in. The fire was too bad. I was too late.”
Mr Samuel was born in Trinidad and Tobago and grew up in London, where he played junior football for Senrab, the club which produced famous names including John Terry and Sol Campbell, as well as West Ham and Charlton.
He is best known for a nine-year spell at Aston Villa, where he made 169 Premier League appearances predominantly at left-back. He also represented England at youth level before switching to Trinidad and Tobago at senior level, winning two senior international caps.
Aston Villa, who face Middlesbrough in the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-final, tonight, tweeted: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of our former player Jlloyd Samuel at the age of just 37 in a car accident.
“Our players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect tonight and our thoughts are with his friends and family at this very difficult time.”
The driver of the van, a 54-year-old man, sustained serious injuries and has been taken to hospital for treatment.
Road closures remain in place at either end of West Lane, near to the junctions of the A56 and the A50.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area.
Anyone with any information about the incident should call Cheshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 64540.
We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of our former player Jlloyd Samuel at the age of just 37 in a car accident
Our players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect tonight and our thoughts are with his friends and family at this very difficult time
#AVFC pic.twitter.com/mlTeIEJm3y— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) May 15, 2018
We’ve received some terrible news that former National defender and Ex-Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers player Jlloyd Samuel died in a car crash this morning in England. The TTFA and all his former teammates extends deepest condolences to his family in this most difficult time. pic.twitter.com/ujhcmw9jrQ
— TTFA (@TTFootballAssoc) May 15, 2018
Heartbreaking news coming from the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association who today have confirmed the death of former Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers player Jlloyd Samuel.
Our thoughts go out to his friends and family😢 pic.twitter.com/150we0Z4GS
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) May 15, 2018
The condolences of everyone at BT Sport are with the family, friends and team-mates of Jlloyd Samuel.
1981 – 2018. pic.twitter.com/NwpJIqLIJI
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 15, 2018
