The two “best friends” who died after tragic crash on Wednesday (August 9), have been named as Zac Smith and Kye Mclean, both aged just 18 and from the Sudbury area.
The crash happened at around 10pm on the B1115 Great Waldingfield Road, near Chilton Airfield and just outside the village.
Two men, the driver, Zac, and passenger, Kye, were treated by ambulance staff, as well as two volunteer critical care paramedics from Suffolk Accident Rescue Service, but both died at the scene. They were in a silver Vauxhall Corsa.
Zac, of North Rise, Great Cornard, was a promising young footballer – described by his coaches as a”manager’s dream” – who had played for both AFC Sudbury and Cornard United.
Both teams will pay tribute to him with a minute’s applause before their matches on Saturday.
The family of Zac, of North Rise, Great Cornard, have issued a tribute through Suffolk police. They said: “Paul, Kelly, Ben and Alice are devastated at the loss of their beloved son and brother.
“Zac was never without a smile or a kind word for anyone who came his way.
“He was never far from those he loved, Zac has grown into an extraordinarily kind and handsome young man.
“He was the biggest giver of hugs and kisses, a mechanic, a sportsman, a son, a brother – a someone to everyone.
“He was the finder of fun and caretaker of everyone. ‘Zac-man’ you will be kept safe in our hearts always and forever.”
Zac worked for his family’s skip hire company, Premier Mini Skip Hire, which is based in the Sudbury area.
He played for AFC Sudbury through the youth teams up until the age of 16, when he moved to Cornard United. He was pushing to break through into the first team.
A fundraising site for Kye, of Rockhall Road, Polstead, has been set up to help his family with funeral costs, with dozens of friends paying tribute.
His family said: “Kye was loved by everyone who knew him, not only by his family but by so many friends too.
“He would do anything to make people happy and his smile always lit up the room. As well as his family and friends, Kye loved his motorbike, football, tracksuits and roses.
“Family was everything, he will be sadly missed by his Mum, Dad, little sister and everyone who knew him.”
The online fundraising page for Kye was set up by Laura Pritchard on Thursday, who wrote: “Last night we lost a very dear friend Kye Mclean.
“He was an awesome guy always happy to help anybody, kind, gentle and gave the best hugs. He was taken far too young he truly was an amazing friend, brother, cousin, nephew, grandson and son.
“We are all still in shock and we would like to show our support in setting up this page for Kye and his family.”
Another friend wrote: “Kye was such a funny guy full of happiness always doing his best to make everyone smile. Kye and Zac deserve the best send off for two lovely lads who, no matter what, put themselves out there to help anyone and never expected anything in return.”
Both friends are former pupils of Thomas Gainsborough School, in Great Cornard. Their deaths come less than two months after Thomas Gainsborough pupil Izzy Cottrell, 17, died in a crash in Hadleigh.
The Boxford teenager was a passenger in a Vauxhall Corsa which left the road and collided with fencing on the A1071 at around 10pm on June 17.
Wayne Lloyd, headteacher at Thomas Gainsborough, said: “Both Zac and Kye are fondly remembered by staff and students at the school.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to their family and friends and everyone affected by this tragedy.”
Friends of Zac and Kye have flooded social media with tributes, with many in the local football community also paying tribute.
Their deaths take the total toll on Suffolk’s roads to 22 this year. Last year 32 people died. More than 75% of those who have died this year, including motorbikers, cyclists and pedestrians, are men.
• More than £450 has been raised for Kye so far. The online donation page can be found at www.gofundme.com/in-loving-memory-of-kye-mclean
• No other cars are thought to be involved in the crash. Witnesses or anybody who may have any dash cam footage of the incident are asked to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Team on 101 reference CAD 403 of August 9
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