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A bus driver who valiantly used his vehicle to shield a woman lying in the road has died after a horror crash on Christmas Eve.

Nana Boateng was embarrassed by the attention he received after using his bus to protect the woman from oncoming traffic two months ago.

The bus driver then stayed at the scene to direct cars while he ferried his passengers onto another bus.

(Image: Bath Chronicle WS)

But yesterday his colleagues were informed he had died after the car he was driving collided with a lorry north of Hullavington.

He had been heading home to Chippenham from visiting family when the crash happened on the A429 at around 4am on Christmas Eve.

Mr Boateng, who was in a Ford Fiesta, was pronounced dead at the scene, reports the Bath Chronicle .

(Image: Bath Chronicle WS)

Colleagues of the popular bus driver at Bath Bus Station learned of his death later that day.

First Bus announced in a staff memo: "It is with very great regret that we advise all members of staff that our friend and colleague Nana Boateng has died in the early hours of Christmas Eve.

“We shall all miss his infectious smile and personality.

"Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.”

Mr Boateng became a local hero in October when passengers alerted the Chronicle to his quick-thinking actions on Upper Bristol Road.

He had been ferrying passengers from the Newbridge Park and Ride when he saw a woman lying in the middle of the road.

His first thought was to protect her from oncoming traffic so he cautiously inched the double-decker bus towards her, stopped it at a safe distance, switched on its hazard lights, and got out to help.

Mr Boateng helped direct traffic before putting his passengers onto a passing X49 so they could complete their journey into Bath.

He stayed with his number 21 bus protecting the woman until paramedics had loaded her into an ambulance and taken her to hospital.

He was hailed a "hero" by First Bus at the time, but Mr Boateng deflected the praise, saying: “I don’t really think I did anything special.”

Police are looking for witnesses to the collision which killed Mr Boateng and closed the A429 for about eight hours on Christmas Eve.

The A429 was closed in both directions between junction 17 northbound and Malmesbury southbound.

Wiltshire Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision or saw the vehicles prior to the collision to contact PC 1106 Rabczak, on 101, or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.