A MAN whose work was dedicated to saving lives on the road has died in hospital nine days after a horrific car crash left him severely brain-damaged.

David Calvert, 38, from Tadcaster, died surrounded by his heartbroken family just two hours after being taken off a life-support machine in Hull Royal Infirmary's neurological unit.

And in another head-on smash last night, a man was killed and four other people injured after two cars collided at Spofforth, near Wetherby.

The 26-year-old man, who was driving a silver Peugeot 205, died instantly in the collision with a white Peugeot 405 estate on the A661. Three passengers in the 205 and the driver of the 405, Stephen Darton, aged 49, of Low Street, South Milford, were taken to hospital, but police said their injuries were not life-threatening.

The news of Mr Calvert's death has shocked Tadcaster where he ran his own company, Sky High Traffic Data, specialising in video surveys which revealed potential road accident blackspots.

It was his company's video surveillance footage which revealed the unbelievable risks drivers were taking as they negotiated central gaps on the A64 between Tadcaster and York - sparking an Evening Press campaign to close the gaps.

Ironically, Mr Calvert died after his Audi coupe was in a head-on collision with a lorry on the A659 at the junction with Toulston Lane, near Tadcaster, where he had predicted someone would be killed.

The junction is less than half a mile from his home in the grounds of Tadcaster Grammar School, which the bachelor shared with his parents.

His devastated mother, Delia, 76, said: "David spent his life trying to save lives on the road and then lost his - we still can't believe he's gone.

Mrs Calvert and her family kept a bedside vigil for nine days at the hospital before David finally lost his fight for life.

Mr Calvert also leaves two sisters, Linda, 49, and Irene, 47. His funeral service will be held at St Mary's Church, Tadcaster, on Wednesday, June 21 at 2pm.