Family’s tribute to fatal crash victim as police warn of ‘extremely tragic’ danger of distracted driving after A52 crash at Wyberton

The family of a man killed in a fatal crash have paid tribute to his ‘kind, caring and hard working’ nature — as police highlight the ‘extremely tragic’ consequences of being distracted behind the wheel.

Robert Hewitt, known as Bob to friends and family, was only minutes from home when the motorbike he was riding was hit from behind by a Suzuki car on the A52 at Wyberton. He died, aged 64, from injuries suffered in the crash.

His wife was said by police to be in the garden expecting and looking forward to seeing her husband come home from his club — and was thinking about making him a cup of tea when she heard the devastating news of the collision.

In a statement, Bob’s family said: “On the 9th of October 2023 my husband of 40 years, father to Josh and grandfather to Hugo, was cruelly taken from us.

“The kindest, most caring, hard working and loving man. Our hearts are truly broken, life will never be the same without him and we will love him always, Lyn, Josh and Hugo Hewitt.”

Ruth Upsall, 28, of Heron Way, Boston, pleaded guilty to causing his death at an earlier hearing at Boston Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court to 10 months in custody and disqualified from driving for 17 months.

Detective Sergeant Adam Doona, Serious Collision Investigation Unit, Lincolnshire Police, said: "Bob and his family were looking forward to their future together; his death has been utterly devastating for them.

"There isn’t any sentence that will ever be enough, or bring Bob home to the place he should be.

"Driving comes with such a great responsibility, there are no exceptions to this. Every action or inaction a driver takes can have consequences, as has been felt by this extremely tragic collision.

"Anyone who travels on the roads needs to solely concentrate on their driving. On this occasion, Ruth Upsall may have been distracted by her music. However, there are other distractions that allow drivers to lose their concentration. If you decide to drive that has to be the only thing you do; no distractions, no excuses."

Just after 3.45pm on Monday October 9 in 2023, Upsall, 28, of Heron Way, Boston, was driving her blue Suzuki Swift towards Boson on the A52 at Wyberton.

She was approaching the junction with Fen Road to her right.

The vehicle she was driving hit the back of a black Triumph Bonneville Bobber motorcycle which had been travelling in the same direction as her. The rider, Mr Hewitt, was thrown from his motorcycle.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: “Along with other emergency services, PC Tristan Hudson, a Forensic Collision Investigator attended the scene and later reported the motorcycle was at a point of starting to make a right turn when it was hit by the Suzuki driven by Upsall.

“He examined the scene, vehicles and other evidence in detail and was able to say the motorcycle’s brake lights and right-hand indicator were operating at the time of the collision. He was satisfied from the evidence he found, the motorcycle had slowed and was positioned on the outside edge of the Boston bound lane and was signalling to turn right into Fen Road. The motorcycle had not stopped before it was hit from behind. The speed limit for the road at that point is 50mph.

“There were no evidential marks on the road surface to suggest Upsall had used her brakes prior to the collision or taken any avoiding action.”

PC Hudson found that it is likely that there was nothing Mr Hewitt could have done to avoid a collision.

In interview, Upsall said she had been driving home from work listening to music on her mobile phone via the entertainment system in her car; she may have been singing or mumbling along to the songs.

Upsall did not see the motorcycle until two or three Suzuki car lengths in front of her and her car ran into the back of the motorcycle, causing the collision.

The Forensic Collision Investigator was satisfied she would have been travelling behind the motorcycle for at least 1.2km before the rider signalled his intentions to turn right and slowed down.

Checks on Upsall’s phone showed she had not been using it for any other reason than to listen to music before the collision happened.