The family of a young dad-to-be have paid tribute to him after he tragically lost his life after a two-car collision in North Tyneside three weeks ago.

Loved ones of Ben Cann, from Dudley in Cramlington, have said they are “heartbroken” after he was involved in a fatal car crash on Northumbrian Way in Killingworth on July 2.

Ben, who was just 20 years old, had recently found out he was going to be a father to a baby girl before the tragic accident.

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Emergency services were called to the scene at around 3:30pm to reports of a two-vehicle collision, where they found a red Citroen C1 had collided with a yellow Nissan Juke that was travelling in the opposite direction.

Ben, who was driving the Citroen, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries but sadly lost his life on July 24, three weeks after the devastating crash.

His family have today (July 27) released a heartbreaking statement paying tribute to him.

They said: “The youngest son of his heartbroken mam and youngest sibling of his brother and five sisters, he will be cherished forever.

“Ben was loved by so many, he had so much to live for including his baby girl that he just found out he was about to have.

“Fly high, son – we love you forever.”

Northumbria Police have been leading an investigation into the collision, as they urge anyone with information to come forward with any details that may assist enquiries.

Sergeant Dave Roberts, of Northumbria Police’s Motor Patrols Department, is leading the investigation.

He said: “This is absolutely awful news, and all our thoughts remain with Ben’s loved ones as they attempt to come to terms with what has happened.

“Any death on our roads is a tragedy, but it is always especially poignant when it involves a young person with their full life ahead of them – and with so much to look forward to, given he was due to become a father for the first time.

“We are continuing to carry out enquiries into the collision as we look to give Ben’s family the answers they deserve.

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“I’d like to thank those who have already come forward to assist our investigation and would ask anybody who has information – and has yet to get in touch – to do so as soon as possible.”

Police have also confirmed that the driver and passengers inside the Nissan suffered minor injuries and received hospital treatment.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101 quoting log NP-20230702-0702.