Death crash victims named

4:41pm Tuesday 20th May 2008

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THE two men who died following a road traffic collision in Stourport on Sunday have been identified and tributes are being made.

They were both passengers of a black Volkswagen Golf which left the road and overturned as it was overtaking a red Golf.

Shane Toogood, 19, of Lodge Crescent, Netherton, was dead on arrival at the Worcester Royal Hospital in Worcester.

Sam Cox - formerly known as Sam Passey, also 19, from Calewood Road, Quarry Bank, was taken to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham where he died a few hours later.

Mr Toogood did an apprenticeship at Birmingham Construction College, after which he worked as a roofer in Birmingham for 12 months, but had been unemployed since January.

Mr Cox was a landscape gardener at his father's business, Waterside Fencing.

A joint statement released by the families said: "Sam was the oldest of four brothers. He was a second dan world champion kick boxer along with his brothers. Sam has always been very sporty, travelling the globe for his chosen sport.

"He left school and completed a two-year college course in carpentry. He was the best at everything he did.

"He grew up with his nan and grandad until the age of 12 years when his nan died after a long illness.

"Sam was a loyal and protective lad, living his life to the max. His second family were his close friends who he called his Lodge Farm brothers.

"Shane Toogood, who died along with Sam, was on a college course at Birmingham and had recently split up with his girlfriend. He leaves a little sister, Tia, aged three years.

"Shane, like Sam, was loyal and protective of all his family and friends, and it gives the two families great comfort that they are together."

The driver of the black Golf, a 20-year-old man, from Stourbridge, sustained serious chest injuries and is currently in a stable condition in Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry.

A rear seat passenger, an 18-year-old man from Netherton, was taken to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital for a check-up and was discharged after treatment.

The driver of the other vehicle, the red Golf, an 18-year-old man from Brierley Hill, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released on police bail, pending further inquiries.

PC Andy Saunders, of North Worcestershire Road Policing Unit, said: "While we have several witnesses, we are keen to speak to anyone else who saw what happened, or who saw either vehicle prior to the collision."

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact PC Saunders in the North Worcestershire Road Policing Unit on 08457 444888.

The collision happened on Dunley Road at about 3.20pm. The road was closed for about five hours afterwards.