THE wife of a Keighley-district lorry driver who tragically died has paid tribute to her hero husband.

Ken Sugden, just two weeks away from his 64th birthday, died following an incident at Five Lane Ends roundabout, Idle, during rush hour on Monday.

The JODA Freight employee, of around 15 years, was driving his HGV when he suffered a suspected heart attack at the wheel.

The vehicle then careered over the roundabout.

Mr Sugden’s wife, Brenda, 71, said her husband had always enjoyed driving a wagon, but revealed the devastating moment she found out the tragic news.

She said: “I was speaking to him at one o’clock, asking him to bring me something when he finished work.

“That was the last time I spoke to him.

“JODA rang at two-ish to say he was involved in an accident or something and that it might be a heart attack. They said the police were coming soon to see me.

“They rushed me and my son to Bradford Royal Infirmary - unfortunately it just wasn’t to be.”

Witness David Greasley was driving behind Mr Sugden’s JODA truck and believes he heroically drove onto the roundabout intentionally, to avoid causing injury to anyone.

Mrs Sugden said she and her husband shared many memories across 40 years of being together.

“He was just always making me laugh,” she said.

“Wherever he went, everybody knew him.”

In the past, Mr Sugden played for Haworth Methodists Cricket Club and had many friends there, Mrs Sugden said.

She added: “He was very caring and he would help anybody. He was very popular at work.”

The family revealed it had received lots of support since the incident.

Son, Gareth Sugden, issued a thanks to all those who had shared kind words.