Mervyn Thomas dies in Dorset crash 13 years after son

Lin Thomas said her husband experienced communication difficulties following a stroke in 2000

A grandfather died in a car crash 13 years after his son was killed in a collision, his family has said.

Mervyn Thomas, 72, was a passenger in a Peugeot 2008 when it was in collision with a BMW on Portland Beach Road, Dorset, on Wednesday.

He died the next day in hospital. Two other men sustained serious injuries.

Mr Thomas' family said his son Gareth died in 2004 when his motorcycle was involved in a crash on the nearby B3157 coast road from Weymouth to Bridport.

In a statement, Mr Thomas's wife Lin and their daughter Suzanne said: "The utter tragedy of the similarities between the death of Mervyn and that of our son Gareth nearly 13 years ago seems particularly cruel."

Mrs Thomas said her husband experienced communication difficulties following a stroke in 2000 but "those close to him will remember him as loving all social events".

"His huge laugh would fill a room, we will forever miss hearing it."

PC Mark Palmer, from Dorset Police's traffic unit, said: "Our investigation is still ongoing. Therefore we need any witnesses to the collision or the manner of driving of either vehicle prior to it, who have not yet spoken with an officer, to come forward."