M6 crash : Pregnant partner's tribute to dad-to-be Chris Smith

Chris Smith, who lived in Stockport but was set to move to Sutton with his pregnant partner before he died, had everything to look forward to in life and was due to start his family with partner Mandy.

Mandy was 28 weeks pregnant with their first baby when the tragedy happened in November 2022.

Chris was on his way home from work at Amazon in Manchester when a dangerous driver crashed into him at speeds of 128mph.

The driver, John Yates, was convicted last week, and Mandy, 39, who is preparing for the imminent birth of their son, has shared memories of “kind and gentle soul” Chris following the sentencing.

Mandy McKechnie said: “Chris was fairly quiet, we met each other two years ago and he was just the love of my life, such a caring person and very patient. I never saw him get angry.

“He loved football but didn't support a specific team, he just enjoyed the entire sport and video games and was teaching himself video game coding.

“He also loved anime and music, anything from classical to rap.

“He was a simple man, and we had a simple but very happy life, we were happy. I’m just so sad he’s been taken from us.”

Mandy, who is due to give birth to a baby boy, opened up about how the pair were excited for their son’s arrival and the devastation that Chris will never meet their son.

Mandy, a psychotherapist, said: “We actually lost a baby the year before, so we were anxious but very excited when we got pregnant again and got to the 12 week mark. Chris was so excited and ready to be a daddy.

“We met later in life I’m 39 and he was 41 but we waited to find the right people before having a baby; everything was falling into place for us. He’d had me pick out a ring as he was planning to propose, but sadly that never happened.”

The horrific incident happened on the M6 between junction 20, Lymm, and junction 21, Woolston, on November 15 last year at about 12.30am.

Mandy got a call from Chris saying he was on his way home after finishing work, but at 3.30am she got a visit from police to confirm he had died in the crash.

She said: “I couldn’t believe it, we were planning to go shopping the days after that for the pram, we were sorting our son’s nursery out and all of a sudden he’s gone.

“Chris was so ready to be a daddy, and our son will miss out on that now. He would have been amazing - so hands on.

“He’s missed all but two of the appointments too, we had our first 3D scan booked in for two weeks after he died. All these milestones we were so excited to go through together, just stolen from us.

“Chris is the love of my life; I’ve been given a life sentence now having to live without him and our son will grow up forever missing the amazing daddy Chris would definitely have been."

“He had everything to look forward to, but it was all taken from us.”

Yates, of no fixed address but originally of North Wales, was jailed for eight years and three months.