A 19-YEAR-OLD Lydbrook man has died following a collision in Upper Lydbrook last Wednesday night.

The man, who has been named locally as Sam Villis, was a passenger in a green Volkswagen Lupo when it left the road close to Mireystock crossroads and collided with a tree at about 7.30pm.

He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, a 17-year-old boy also from Lydbrook, was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital with minor injuries.

The road was closed until 2am while officers carried out a collision investigation. Anyone who witnessed the collision but hasn't spoken to police is urged to call 101, quoting incident 352 of June 4.

•Tributes in words and flowers have been left beside the road, near Mireystock in Upper Lydbrook, where the tragic collision occurred.

Many of the messages are addressed to Sam by his nickname, Skange, and were left by his family and friends at the place where the car left the road and hit a tree.

One card reads: "Skange, we can't believe that you have gone. We will cherish the memories that we have with you over the past eight years. Love and miss you."

Another reads: "In loving memory of my dear cousin. Gone but never forgotten."

While an emotive message adds: "Shouldn't be writing this. Can't believe it after seeing you only days ago. You were such a lovely lad."

Another poignant card reads: "Skang, well mate been a long time knowing each other. Still expecting to see you smiling as you come down our lane. Really going to miss you mate. See you again one day."

Sam's friends gathered at the Courtfield Arms, where he had previously worked behind the bar, to console one another, on the Thursday evening following the crash.

Local weather and driving conditions on Wednesday were said by locals to be "absolutely awful", with heavy rain generating much surface water on the roads, though it is not known if this was a contributing factor in the tragedy.

A coroner's inquest, which may convene this week, will examine the details.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Gloucestershire Constabulary, quoting Incident 352 of 4/6/14.