THE heartbroken fiancée of car crash victim John Wigglesworth today spoke of her devastation, saying: "I don't know how I am going to go on."

Helen Benson, of Tang Hall Lane in York, spoke to The Press days after the tragic accident on the A64.

John, 22, was driving to Helen's house when his car left the road and hit a tree.

"I am just so lost," she said.

"I have lost a part of me. I felt I had known him for ever, and him me. He always said we would be together forever and a day."

Helen, 34, said John would be remembered as someone who "loved life and loved having a good time".

"He was kind and caring," she said. "We just loved each other, and we had got engaged at Christmas."

She said John was an avid Aston Villa FC supporter and a big fan of music, especially David Bowie and The Beatles, and he was someone who had a great sense of humour.

"His family are devastated. We are all devastated," she added.

John, who was from Pontefract, and Helen got together three-and-a-half months ago, after meeting at Sainsbury's store at Monks Cross, York, where they both worked.

John was a trainee manager for the firm, and had been working a night shift at a branch in Dewsbury before setting off for York.

"He had been doing a stock-take and had been on until midnight, but did not finish until nearly 2am, and then was coming over to York," said Helen.

It was Helen's store manager who broke the news to her when she arrived at Monks Cross on Thursday morning.

"I did not believe it," she said. "I just could not believe it. It was like it wasn't real.

"I have visited the site where he died a couple of times. I'm just trying to remember him, and talk to him."

Helen said the last time she and John spoke was at lunchtime last Wednesday, before he went to work.

"We were supposed to be on holiday from work next week, and we were talking about we were going to do," she said.

She added: "All my colleagues at Monks Cross have been great with flowers and cards and people have been coming round. But no one can help me really."


I need to know what happened'

GRIEVING Helen Benson has urged anyone with information about John's accident to contact police as soon as possible.

Investigating officers believe his wrecked Toyota Aygo lay undiscovered for two-and-a-half hours, before being found by a cyclist on a nearby path.

The car was last seen near the junction of the A1 and A64 at about 2.20am on Thursday.

But the vehicle was not found until 4.50am, when the cyclist found it near the A64's junction with Colton Lane, near Bilbrough Top.

Helen said: "If anybody driving at that time of night remembers anything, please say.

"They have taken him away, and I just need to know what happened."

Police and an ambulance were called, but Mr Wigglesworth was pronounced dead at the scene.

The eastbound carriageway of the A64 was closed until 10.30am.

Coupled with local flooding on other roads, and a minor accident on the A59, the closure led to severe delays for morning commuters.

Traffic Sergeant Les Moorhouse appealed for witnesses on Friday, and told The Press that motorists may have passed the car, unaware there had been a serious accident.

He said: "We want to clarify whether anybody saw the car between 2.20am and 4.50am and, if anybody did see it, it is very important they come forward.

"When the car was found, it was facing the wrong way and pointing towards Leeds, so if people had been driving past they may have thought it was parked or abandoned and passed the scene without realising what had happened.

"We don't know how busy the road was at the time, but at that time of the morning it would have been quiet and would only have become quieter until about the time the car was found."

Anyone with information about the accident should phone Sergeant Moorhouse at North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247.


Tributes to the nicest bloke you could wish to meet'

FRIENDS of tragic road crash victim John Wigglesworth have been paying tribute to him online.

On the social networking website Facebook, people have set up a special page in his memory, declaring him "gone but never forgotten".

People who knew him have posted messages of condolence, and paid tribute to the 22-year-old.

One old school friend, Charlotte Stephenson, wrote: "Over the 17 years or so that I knew John I think I can say that he is one of the nicest guys I ever met.

"From the days of Mrs Blackman's class and him trying to convince me that Aston Villa are the most amazing football team ever, and the later years he always had a smile on his face, and also gave amazing hugs!

"I can't think of a single wrong word to say about him, and over 17 years that's pretty amazing!

"John and his family and friends will be in my thoughts. Sleep well John xxxxx."

Another friend, Paul Firth, wrote: "I had the pleasure of meeting John this year through work and all I can say is that he was the nicest bloke you could wish to meet.

"I'm just pleased I got to meet him - rest in peace, mate."