A 19-year-old man died following a two-vehicle collision on Hesleden Road near Blackhall Colliery in County Durham on Sunday evening. Lucas Littlefair, the driver of a Volkswagen Passat, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 7:15 p.m.

The crash involved the Volkswagen Passat, driven by Littlefair of Hesleden, and a Citroen C3 traveling in the opposite direction. Three passengers, two 17-year-old boys and a 17-year-old girl, who were in the Volkswagen, were taken to hospital as a precaution but have since been discharged. The driver of the Citroen, a 22-year-old woman, was also treated at a hospital and discharged.

Littlefair’s family described him as a much-loved son, brother, grandson, and boyfriend. In a statement, they said he had been “cruelly snatched from us much too soon,” leaving a profound void in their lives.

Durham Constabulary’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to come forward. Those with details are asked to contact the unit via email at SCIU@durham.police.uk, quoting incident number 413 of August 2.