A young mechanic from Burnham on Crouch, killed after his car slammed into the front of a house and tree in St Lawrence on Tuesday, brought a "ray of sunshine into the lives of all those he met", according to his family.
The parents of ex-St Peter's School student Christopher McDonald, 20, of New Road, Burnham, said his death on Tuesday (October 21) would leave a huge void in their lives.
His blue Peugeot 206 which was involved in a collision with the front of a house and a tree in Steeple Road at around 2.30am.
In a statement released today, his parents said (October 24): "He brought a ray of sunshine into the lives of everyone he met. He has left a huge void in our lives, a void that will be with us forever.
"He made us smile, laugh and intensely proud. It was always a joy to be with him. This is a great loss to us but we will cherish the time we had with him.
"The times we shared with him will remain in our memories forever."
Having left school Christopher attended 'Prospects' College in Basildon where he just starting the third year of a course in engineering and machining,.He was working as a mechanic in Latchingdon.
He leaves his mother, his father, together with a teenage brother, and young sister.
"Known as 'gentle giant' to many, not big in stature, but big in his heart. He would do anything to help anyone out. We love and will miss him so so much."
Police are continuing to investigate the collision and anyone with information is asked to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on Essex Police 101 or they can email collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk
