A former Bradford traffic policeman today said he was desperate for the truth about his daughter's death in an horrific road smash in America.

Hospice nurse Diane McDermott died in September when a massive lorry ploughed into the back of her car on a freeway as she drove to work.

Her father Brian Pickford explained that although the lorry driver was shown to be responsible, motorists cannot face criminal charges for negligent driving under state law.

And he added: "The only explanation he has given is that he did not see her. We have not been told why that happened and he will face no further action."

Now Mrs McDermott's family are pursuing civil action so the driver is forced to give his account of the smash.

Mr Pickford said that a minor accident on a feeder road, close to her home in Evansville, Indiana, had caused traffic to back up onto the freeway and Diane's car came to a halt.

Moments after it stopped, the huge cab ploughed into it, killing the mum-of-two and injuring an elderly couple in another car.

An examination of the scene showed the lorry did not even brake before hitting the 34-year-old's Toyota which still had its brake lights on.

"We just cannot understand how he didn't see her," said Mr Pickford, 62, of Summerbridge Crescent, Eccleshill.

"This was completely avoidable and we feel very bitter," said Mr Pickford.

His wife Glenda, 56, who is pictured with her husband and a copy of the local Indiana paper which reported the crash, added: "The lorry driver has done this and two little girls have lost their mother.

"She had never had an accident in her life and would never hurt a fly."

And she said: "I don't know how he can sleep at night. He has not even given an explanation as to what happened, let alone apologised."

Although the former Eccleshill Upper School pupil has been buried in America, a memorial service is to be held at St Luke's Church, Fagley Lane, Eccleshill, at 3pm on Sunday, November 16.

Diane had trained as a nurse and later worked at Dewsbury hospital. In 1989 she met her husband-to-be Michael - a soldier in the US Army - while on holiday in Spain.

In 1992 the pair were married and in 2002 Diane gave birth to twin girls, Bethany and Jessica.

After settling in America, Diane studied for US nursing qualifications before becoming a hospice nurse.

Mrs Pickford said: "She was such a lovely girl. She loved life and everyone else.

"She loved working in nursing and was so caring from a very early age."

Mr and Mrs Pickford had been on holiday in Cyprus when they learned of the accident on September 15.

"Receiving that phonecall was the worst moment of our lives," said Mr Pickford.

"We just couldn't believe what was happening."