The West Suffolk College student was travelling in a Vauxhall Corsa with his girlfriend at the time. She was not seriously injured.
A devastated family has paid tribute to a teenager who died from injuries sustained in a car crash in Suffolk on Tuesday.
John Walsh, aged 18, was driving a Vauxhall Corsa along the westbound A14 at around 12.35pm when the tragedy unfolded.
The West Suffolk College student, who was named yesterday by police, was travelling with his girlfriend at the time.
She was left with minor injuries and free to get out of the car after it left the carriageway and rolled into a field.
However Mr Walsh, from Ash Road in Onehouse, was left trapped in the driver’s seat and suffered serious head injuries.
No other vehicles were involved.
Despite being taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridgeshire for treatment Mr Walsh died on Wednesday from his injuries.
Yesterday, in a statement issued through Suffolk Constabulary, his family said the teenager would “be sorely missed by everyone who knew him”.
“We as a family are absolutely devastated by the loss of our beloved John,” it said.
“Despite strenuous efforts by all the emergency services at the scene, he had unfortunately sustained extensive injuries which proved fatal.”
Mr Walsh’s family also said they had decided to donate his organs for transplant “knowing the kind of loving, caring person John was”, saying it would have been his wish.
They also thanked the staff at Addebrooke’s Hospital for the care they had given Mr Walsh following the crash.
The statement continued: “John was well known in the local community through his association with Stowmarket rugby and judo clubs.
“He was a very popular student at West Suffolk College. He will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.”
Paul Flanagan coached Mr Walsh for three years at Stowmarket Judo Club and said he had been very talented, eventually earning his brown belt and winning gold at a regional tournament.
“He had a great attitude and was a very popular member of the group having been with the club for many years,” Mr Flanagan said.
“He was not only a gifted athlete but a lively and polite guy with a great thirst for life which was evidenced by the many activities he got involved in.
“The general shock and emotional outpouring displayed at the news of his passing are evidence of what a truly good lad he was.”
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