Teenager killed in Hitchin crash had 'heart of gold' say family

Oliver Gatfield's family say they will miss his "beautiful smile"

The family of a teenager killed in a crash said he had a "heart of gold" and could "brighten anyone's day" .

Oliver Gatfield,19, was in a car which hit a tree after a crash on the A602 Park Way, near the junction with Willow Lane, in Hitchin, shortly before 20:40 GMT on 13 January.

Another teenager injured in the crash remains in hospital.

Mr Gatfield's family said he was "beautiful, kind, caring and loving".

He was on the way home following a meal out at the time of the crash, police said.

Flowers were left at the scene of the crash in Hitchin

In a statement released by Hertfordshire Police, his family said: " You have been taken from us far too early and we cannot believe we will never see you or your beautiful smile again.

"Each day we miss you bounding through the front door with your big, beautiful, infectious smile and your boundless energy, always rushing from one place to the next. You could brighten anyone's day with that smile and your ability to make people laugh, even as a small child."

They said there was an "endless" list of what they miss about him and that they were "grateful even for the short time we got to spend with you".

"We will always love you so much and are grateful even for the short time we got to spend with you.

"You grew up into such a lovely young man, you were our complete world and life is just never going to be the same without you and your gorgeous smile in it.

"We are so proud of the man you become with your kind, caring nature, your heart of gold, the way you helped your friends and the fact that no matter what you were doing, you were going to have fun while you were doing it," they said.

Police are appealing for anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact them.