THE widow of a chauffeur killed after a 32-tonne truck ploughed into a car in an incident which left four people dead has described him as a 'true gentleman.'

Stephen Vaughan, 34, who ran a luxury taxi firm, died alongside Robert Parker, 59, and Philip Allen, 52, in the incident after the truck ran out of control down a hill in Bath on Monday.

His widow Sian, in her tribute, added that she was "honoured" to have been chosen to be his wife last year.

Mitzi Steady, four, also suffered fatal injuries when she was hit by the truck as she walked down the lane with her grandmother, who is critically ill in hospital.

The Scania truck, carrying sand and gravel, collided with Mitzi and her grandmother, and then struck other cars before overturning onto a Volvo car at the bottom of the hill.

The three men inside the vehicle, taxi driver Mr Vaughan, electricity company director Mr Allen, from Swansea, and Mr Parker, from Cwmbran, South Wales, were killed instantly.

Mr Vaughan, from Swansea, got married in Turkey last summer.

Mrs Vaughan said: "Steve was infectious; when he smiled, the whole room would smile.

"Myself, Steve's parents and family are very proud of the man he was, a true gentleman and we were so privileged to have been a part of his life.

"We are devastated that he was taken away from us so soon."

Mitzi's family previously released a photograph of the little girl and a short statement saying: "Mitzi Rosanna Steady, aged four, loved and missed by us all."

Staff at Snapdragons Nursery in Weston, which Mitzi attended, said their "hearts go out" to the little girl's family.

"We will always miss her smile and her warmth," they said.

THE teenage driver, P of a 32-tonne truck that crashed on a hill, killing four people, including a young girl, had (need to clarify exact licence) only days earlier.

The truck driver Philip Potter, 19, who sustained minor injuries and is recovering in hospital, is said to be struggling to come to terms with the incident.