Family pay tribute to Oldbury man killed in road smash

Jul 15 2009 by William Oliphant, Birmingham Mail

THE devastated family of a father-of-seven biker killed in a road smash today paid tribute to him as a man who “adored his kids”.

Carl David Picken, 41, had just set off from his family-run pub in Oldbury to pick up his daughter when he was involved in a crash with a BMW car.

Family members were at his side seconds after the accident happened. Family and friends rushed out of the Railway pub in Bromford Lane, when they heard the crash and a passing paramedic attempted to revive him.

He was rushed to casualty following the crash – which happened at 5.30pm on Friday - but he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Sandwell Hospital.

His sister, Joanne Morris, 39, today paid tribute to her brother and said his wife and several of his children were with him immediately after the accident.

“He had seven kids, three grandkids and two more on the way. He was a brilliant husband, he loved his wife Kathy and his family to death,” she said.

She added: “He was a brilliant brother. His dad’s absolutely lost without him. He doesn’t know what to do. He’s going to be so sadly missed.

“He had lots of friends. He wasn’t exactly chatty, but he was the kind of person who was always there to listen if you needed it.”

She described life-long blues fan Carl as a workaholic but said he always had time for his family.

“If he wasn’t working then he was with his children. He absolutely adored his kids,” she said.

As well as owning the Railway pub, which is close to Sandwell and Dudley railway station, Carl was a qualified chef and had recently passed his bus driver’s licence.

The accident happened as he was on his way to his home in Cuthbert Road, Smethwick, to pick up his daughter and bring her to the pub.

Police have continued to appeal for witnesses to the crash and anyone with information is asked to call Smethwick Police Station on 0845 1135000.

The driver of the BMW has not been charged and no-one has been arrested in connection with the crash.

A post mortem has yet to take place and an inquest is yet to be opened into the death.