Crash driver's heart problem

11:32am Tuesday 27th February 2007

A motorist who died after his car crashed into a motorway central reservation had recently undergone major heart surgery.

Frank Wimble, of Shooting Field, Steyning, died in hospital after the accident on the west-bound carriageway of the M27 in Hampshire on Sunday.

His family believes he could have suffered a heart attack behind the wheel and lost control of the car.

Mr Wimble's widow, Marjorie, said he had a heart condition and had undergone an operation to correct it in December.

She said: "He had heart trouble and was on an awful lot of medication and we don't know if he had a heart attack and that caused the accident. I knew something was wrong when he didn't text me at the usual time to say he'd arrived safely.

"When I didn't hear anything, the alarm bells started ringing and I kept trying to text him and phone him but couldn't get any answer."

Mr Wimble, 65, had been travelling to work near Southampton, where he was a cook, when the accident happened.

Police believe the red Peugeot 306 Mr Wimble was driving hit the central barrier before colliding with two other cars around 5pm on Sunday at Rownhams.

He was taken to Southampton General Hospital suffering serious head injuries and died early yesterday.

A post mortem examination was due to be carried out today.

Mrs Wimble, 73, said her husband had a great sense of humour, always told a good joke and liked impersonating accents.

She said: "He just seemed to get on well with everyone and so many people have been upset about hearing the news.

""His colleagues have described it as one of their unhappiest days the company has had.

"Everyone has been a great help - his work, the police and the hospital."

Mr Wimble was a civil engineer for more than 40 years and travelled all over the country to work, returning home for weekends.

He was employed with the Pirelli group for about 15 years until he was pensioned off three years ago.

Mr Wimble became a cook for electrical and cable engineer company Durkin and Sons and had been working on a contract with them in Southampton. He was considering retiring soon.

Mrs Wimble said her husband loved fishing, playing the guitar and singing.

Mr and Mrs Wimble would have celebrated their Ruby Wedding on April 1.

He leaves two sons, Stephen, 53, and Mark, 44, and two grandchildren, Lucy, 22, and Andrew, 20.

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Motorway accident victim named