A devoted father was tragically killed after being struck by a lorry in the early hours of the morning, having been out celebrating his birthday.
A Fatal Collision on the Wheelock Bypass
Pete Cope, aged 45 from Crewe, was pronounced dead at the scene following a collision with a heavy goods vehicle. The incident occurred on the A534 Wheelock Bypass, which runs between the villages of Wheelock and Crewe in Cheshire.
The fatal crash took place at approximately 3am on Sunday, December 21 – just days before Christmas. Mr Cope had been enjoying a night out in Sandbach town centre with a friend to mark his birthday when the tragedy unfolded.
A Family's Heartbreaking Tribute
In an emotional statement, Peter's grieving family paid tribute to a beloved family man. They described him as "a devoted father to his five-year-old daughter, a husband, stepfather, son, and brother."
"Peter had been out celebrating his birthday in Sandbach town centre with his friend," the family's statement continued. "We are utterly devastated by his death." The loss has left his community in Crewe and the wider area in profound shock.
Cheshire Police Launch Witness Appeal
Cheshire Police are urgently appealing for witnesses to the collision to come forward. Sergeant Russell Sime confirmed that investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.
"We appreciate this incident happened during the early hours of the morning," said Sgt Sime, "but we are asking any witnesses who have not already spoken to police to get in touch with us."
Officers are particularly keen to hear from any motorists who were driving in the area around 3am on December 21 and who may have captured relevant dashcam footage. Such evidence could prove crucial to the investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Cheshire Police directly, quoting the relevant incident number.
