'Cheeky' teen lived a full life

Parents of a teenager killed in a road crash have paid tribute to their happy-go-lucky son - a “cheeky” young man who had lived life to the full.Danny Lupson, 18, died when the car in which he was a back-seat passenger left the road, hit a tree and overturned at Yaxley in the early last Friday.

Parents of a teenager killed in a road crash have paid tribute to their happy-go-lucky son - a “cheeky” young man who had lived life to the full.

Danny Lupson, 18, died when the car in which he was a back-seat passenger left the road, hit a tree and overturned at Yaxley in the early last Friday.

The road, the old route through the village before the A140 bypass was built, was sealed off for more than six hours after the crash, in which the young, male car driver also received critical head injuries.

He was taken to Ipswich Hospital but later transferred to Addenbrooke's in Cambridgeshire.

Flowers were left over the weekend beside the sharp bend where the car left the road.

Danny, a regular at the Cherry Tree pub in Yaxley and a member of its pool team, had lived all his life in neighbouring Mellis and was well known and well liked in the area.

A former pupil of the village primary school and Hartismere High School at Eye, he worked for Groupbridge of Elmswell.

His distraught parents paid tribute to a “lovable” son - a “cheeky” young man full of good natured fun.

Mother, Carol, 41, said: “He was dearly loved by all his family and friends. We are only now realising how popular he was and just how many friends he had. His charm and smile could win anyone over within minutes. The whole family is devastated and heartbroken at his loss and we thank everyone for their support and kindness, including the police family liaison team.”

Father, Ian, 42, said his son had been “cheeky” and full of life. “He got on with people of all ages - everyone loved him,” he said.

Pamela Roper, landlady at the Railway Tavern pub, Mellis, said she and her partner, Bob Caddy, had only been in the village a few months and had only met Danny on a small number of occasions.

“He seemed a very nice boy and he was obviously very well loved in the area,” she said. “Everybody is in shock and upset.”

Andy Watts, landlord of the Cherry Tree pub at Yaxley, said: “He was a good customer and well loved.”

Suffolk police are appealing for witnesses to the accident, which occurred about 2am on Friday.

The car driver, who is thought to have family in Mellis but lived in the Ipswich area, was last night still in a critical condition in Addenbrooke's Hospital.

A second male passenger in the car escaped unhurt but was treated for shock.

Anyone able to help police investigating the accident should contact Sgt Paul Ward of Suffolk Constabulary's Serious Collision Investigation Team on 01473 613500.