Family’s moving tribute to ‘beautiful young man’ killed in Boxing Day crash

The family of a teenager tragically killed in a road crash on Boxing Day have paid tribute to him as a 'loyal, kind, generous beautiful young man'.

The area of the A14 eastbound at Rougham in Suffolk where a fatal collision took place on Boxing Day 2017. Picture: GREGG BROWN

Police were called to the scene of a collision involving a black Vauxhall Corsa and a grey Ford Fiesta at 9.30pm on the A14 eastbound at Rougham, near Bury St Edmunds, just east of junction 45.

Yesterday (Wednesday, December 27) police said that William Smedley, 18, of Bury St Edmunds, who was a passenger in the Ford Fiesta, died in the incident.

A statement released by Suffolk Police on behalf of the family said: 'Caring son, loving grandson, doting big brother, a loyal, kind, generous beautiful young man gone but never ever forgotten.'

Officers have now confirmed that a second 18-year-old man has died as a result of his injuries.

He has been named as Jake Paxton, also of Bury St Edmunds, and had been taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and was also a passenger in the Ford Fiesta.

A third male - the driver - was taken to hospital for treatment but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The female driver of the Vauxhall Corsa, a 19-year-old woman, was uninjured.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the collision.

Anyone with any information should call the Serious Collision Investigation Team on 101, quoting CAD number 332 of December 26.