Crash victim, 18, was 'beautiful, kind and caring'

An 18-year-old man who died in a car crash "truly was one in a million", his family said in a tribute.

George Herd was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Ship Lane, Aveley, near Thurrock, at 23:05 GMT on Tuesday.

Herd - a passenger in a blue Mini Cooper - died at the scene. His family described him as "our beautiful, kind and caring George... the gentle giant of the family".

Essex Police said a man in his 60s, the driver of a black Kia Picanto, died in hospital.

In a statement, Herd's family said: "George truly was one in a million.

"Gifted with Asperger's and ASD, he viewed this world differently through loving eyes and was proud of who he was — as were we."

The "gifted gamer" cared for his grandparents when they were ill, was always there for his friends in difficult times and he loved his brother and four sisters, the tribute continued.

"He would have made an amazing husband and father one day, and his life was just getting started," they said.

"He was a kind gentleman with a love for our ponies, cats, dogs and animals. His camera roll was full of photos of them," the statement said.

"It will always be the day our lives changed forever, but as a tribute to him we will try to 'be more George'."

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