Family pay tribute to teenager Thomas Smith killed on A421

The family of Thomas Smith, 19, who was killed on the A421 yesterday morning (1st November), have paid tribute to “a very loving and caring boy”.

Thomas Smith, from Kempston, was a passenger in a white Volkswagen van when it hit an HGV between Cardington and Great Barford during the morning rush hour on Thursday 1 November.

Mr Smith’s family said: “Thomas, known to everyone as Tom, was born in Bedford on 30 April 1999.

“Tom was older brother to his sister Brittany and, despite normal sibling rivalries, they both adored each other and loved each other very much.

“Tom went to school in Bedford, leaving at 16 to go to college… earlier this year he secured an apprenticeship in roofing, which he hoped would serve him with future employment in the building industry.

“He loved to talk to people… playing pool [in pubs] and talking to the regulars. He also enjoyed playing computer games.

“Tom was a very loving and caring boy and his death has left a massive void in our lives that will never be filled. We will always remember the good times and his cheeky smile.

“We would request that our privacy is respected at this difficult time.”

A 38-year-old-man from Bedford has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has been released under investigation.

Detectives are particularly keen to hear from any drivers with dash-cams who may have recorded the incident.

Call 101 or visit Bedfordshire Police‘s online reporting centre, quoting Operation Record.

Explore more on these topics

Get the latest Bedford news first

Subscribe to our free daily email for our lead story each morning before we publish it anywhere else, plus the key Bedford Borough headlines from the last 24 hours – without having to log into social media.