Heartbroken family and friends pay tribute to teen who died in crash

Heartbroken family and friends pay tribute to teen, 19, who died in crash as his car was being chased by police

  • Kelvin Bainbridge, 19, was killed during a police chase in Spennymoor, Durham 
  • He crashed the  Nissan Primera into garden wall on Central Drive around 2.30pm
  • Friends have paid tribute to boy who put ‘smile on my face when days were dark’
  • If you have any information, please contact the IOPC at 0800 096 9076 

Heartbroken friends and family have paid tribute to a popular 19-year-old who died in a crash after being pursued by police in County Durham.

Kelvin Bainbridge was killed after smashing the Nissan Primera into a garden wall in Spennymoor, Durham, around 2.30pm on Friday.

He was being chased by Durham Constabulary officers before the accident on Central Drive, Middlestone Moor in Durham.

Family and friends have paid tribute to Kelvin Bainbridge, 19, who died in a crash following a police pursuit in County Durham, around 2.30pm on Friday

Kelvin Bainbridge died after crashing a Nissan Primera into a garden wall in Spennymoor, Durham, and people have flocked to the drive to leave flowers in his memory

Kelvin Bainbridge died after crashing a Nissan Primera into a garden wall in Spennymoor, Durham, and people have flocked to the drive to leave flowers in his memory

People flocked to the street with flowers and balloons with heartfelt messages near the scene of the crash, while tributes have been posted on Facebook. Bouquets lined the fence with heartwarming tributes to the teenager.

One woman wrote: ‘RIP Kelvin James Bainbridge. You were always the one to put a smile on my face when days were dark and always the one to light up the atmosphere in a room. You will be loved and missed dearly by so many people.’

Another girl said: ‘Rest in peace, everyone who knows him, knows how he would do anything to make you laugh, such a lovely lad and gone far too soon.’  

Police have said the brief pursuit ended in the collision (pictured) where the wall and fence were torn down, leaving Kelvin's loved ones in 'absolute shock'. They say their friend will be dearly missed as his temperament made it 'impossible for anyone to be upset' around him

Police have said the brief pursuit ended in the collision (pictured) where the wall and fence were torn down, leaving Kelvin’s loved ones in ‘absolute shock’. They say their friend will be dearly missed as his temperament made it ‘impossible for anyone to be upset’ around him

Graffiti is sprayed on the pavement marking Kelvin's name - as a sign of love for the 19-year-old who would always put a smile on people's faces 'when days were dark and always the one to light up the atmosphere in a room'

Graffiti is sprayed on the pavement marking Kelvin’s name – as a sign of love for the 19-year-old who would always put a smile on people’s faces ‘when days were dark and always the one to light up the atmosphere in a room’

Meanwhile another friend shared their ‘absolute shock’ and could ‘not believe how short life really is’. 

The ‘crazy nights when we were about 14’ will always be remembered and Kelvin’s general ‘bouncing around’ made it ‘impossible for anyone to be upset’ around him. 

And one man posted: ‘Another very good lad taken far, far to early, never know what’s round the corner.’

Readers also posted tributes to the teenager on ChronicleLive’s Facebook page. 

One person shared their grief on Facebook and said: 'Another very good lad taken far, far to early, never know what's round the corner.'

One person shared their grief on Facebook and said: ‘Another very good lad taken far, far to early, never know what’s round the corner.’

Christine Glynn added: ‘This is so sad he was only 19… his poor family now have to try and to come to terms with this (if they ever can).’

Lisa-rich Raine said: ‘So sad for all involved’, while Karen Ann posted: ‘Heart goes out to his family’.

The crash is being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

David Ford, who is Interim Regional Director of IOPC, said Kelvin was fatally injured after the police chase and their thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends 

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash has been asked to contact the IOPC at 0800 096 9076 or email witness@policeconduct.gov.uk.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk