TRIBUTES have been paid to a Ryedale teenager who was tragically killed in a road accident at the weekend.

Tom Warrington, of Great Barugh, near Malton, died after his red Renault Clio hit a tree on the Goathland to Beck Hole road near Whitby at 7.40am on Sunday.

A 17-year-old passenger from Yedingham was airlifted to Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough suffering from serious injuries.

His condition was said to be “stable”.

Now friends and staff from Malton School, where the 18-year-old studied until Christmas last year, have paid tribute to a popular and well-loved teenager.

Headteacher Rob Williams said the school community was struggling to come to terms with his sudden death.

He said: “Tom was one of the most charming young men I have worked with in recent years.

‘‘He was kind-hearted and generous of spirit.

‘‘It says a great deal about him that while there has been great sadness here, there has also been a sharing of positive memories. Tom was someone about whom everybody seems to have had a fond story. Our thoughts at this time are with his family.”

On Monday the sixth-form held a special assembly and all students have been offered counselling.

The fun-loving teenager had recently left school to pursue a career in the construction industry and had started as an apprentice building surveyor for David Harrison Building Contractors in Malton.

Office manager Marion Harrison said the teenager had left a lasting impression on all his work colleagues.

She said: “Tom had only been with us for three months but in that time he made a lot of friends on the site.

‘‘They are all extremely shocked and upset by what’s happened because he was such a likeable and willing lad.

‘‘We would like to extend our sympathies to his family at this very difficult time.”

One of his pals, Luca Pool, from Old Malton, said his friend enjoyed a lust for life.

The 18-year-old said: “Tom was everybody’s friend and one of those people that got on with everyone he met.

‘‘He was such a spontaneous person and would do anything for anybody. I’m sure he had no regrets because he lived life to the full to the very end.”

His friends Jonathan Brown, Annie Rogers and Sam Leach said their pal was a legend in his lifetime.

They said: “Thomas Lloyd Warrington will be sadly missed but never forgotten. He was the life and soul of every party.

‘‘He never met one person that he couldn’t talk to. Tom was enthusiastic about everything from riding his BMX to doing back flips off waterfalls, or even just a quiet pint in the pub, not that it ended quietly with Tom around.

‘‘You only had to meet Tom once to fall in love with him, he was a true gent.

‘‘Beck Hole was his favourite place in the world and he will always be at peace there.”

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash which happened at a local beauty spot called Thomasson Foss on the scenic stretch.

The road was closed for six hours while crash investigation teams carried out their work.

Any witnesses to the collision or anyone who saw the vehicle prior to the crash, is asked to phone PC Jon Beaumont at Scarborough Road Policing Group on 0845 6060247.

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