Teenager dies after roadside incident

Family and friends have paid tribute to the fun-loving teenager.

Gary Finch, of Ninfield Road, was involved in the incident in Upper Park Road, Hastings, on Friday just before 9pm.

He was taken by ambulance to the Conquest Hospital with serious head injuries.

He died on Tuesday evening.

Inspector Natalie Carron of Bexhill Traffic Police said: "It is a tragic waste of life. Extensive police enquiries have led to the arrest of three people who have been released on bail."

Gary was with his friends Colin Chatfield and Daniel Walbrin when the accident occurred.

Daniel, of Celandine Road, St Leonards, said: "We miss him so much, it just won't be the same."

He worked as a diesel engineer at Serco and attended Ashford College one day a week as part of a technical engineer apprenticeship.

His family planned to move to Turkey next year and Daniel intended to go with them after he completed his apprenticeship.

Ron Finch, Gary's father, said "He loved scuba-diving, we used to go together.

The family are moving to Turkey and we were planning to run a scuba-diving holiday in Turkey as a family business.

"Everybody loved him, he was such a funny character. He would do things to make people laugh, a big practical joker."

Mr Finch and Annette Finch, Gary's mother, looked through photographs of their son, in limited supply after a flood in June this year destroyed their family home including most of their family photos and home videos.

They smiled and gave a hearty laugh as they remembered how their son loved his cars.

Mr Finch said "He tinkered all the time. He knew everything and knew nothing, it didn't matter, he was so happy tinkering on his cars.

"I bought him his first motorbike when he was four and he loved it."

But the smiles quickly faded.

"Nothing matters. Nothing can bring him back."

Mr and Mrs Finch arrived at the Conquest hospital before the ambulance and saw their son being carried into the hospital.

"It was horrific, his face."

"These people left my son in a bush to die.

"They took our son, a whole life full of friends and family. His girlfriend Kasey MacGowan is devastated."

Staff at the hospital were able to use Gary as an organ donor which is what he would have wanted according to his family.

His sister, Nichola, 16 and her 18-year old boyfriend Ben Kourti are devastated.

Police have recovered a Silver Renault 19 saloon car, registration J592GGU, and would like the owner of the car to come forward.

Police would also like anyone who saw the car or who was driving the car on Friday night to contact the Senlac road policing department quoting Operation Date on 0845 6070999.