Aaron Banks (18), who lived in St Saviour and had attended Le Rocquier School, died following a collision in St Peter’s Valley on Saturday.
Mr Banks, who was an apprentice marine mechanic, has been described as a ‘lovely kid’ who was was always smiling. He was due to become the youngest member of the Jersey Lifeboat Association.
According to the police, he had been driving his Suzuki Jimny north through the valley on Saturday when the crash happened at around 4.20pm between Tesson Mill and Mont Fallu.
A second car, a blue Ford Focus, was also involved in the incident. No one in the second vehicle was injured.
Andy Hibbs, the coxswain of the Jersey Lifeboat Association, said: ‘It has come as one hell of a shock to all of us. He was just such a lovely kid, always smiling.
‘He was going to join the crew. He had a few bits and bobs still to do, but he just could not wait to get going.
‘He was an apprentice marine mechanic and he so desperately wanted to get involved with the lifeboat.
‘We wanted to get him involved in the maintenance side of things. It’s hit me like a sledgehammer. I have known his dad, who is a former fisherman, for over 30 years.
‘Aaron had been on boats his whole life and spent a massive amount of time with his dad. He was just so well liked by everyone around the harbour.’
Acting deputy police chief James Wileman tweeted: ‘Terrible news. My thoughts are especially with Aaron’s family and friends, but also with those colleagues across all services who will also be affected by such a tragic incident.’
The road in St Peter’s Valley was closed for several hours on Saturday while forensic-collision investigators and crime-scene investigators studied the scene of the crash. The investigation was continuing today.
The police are now appealing for witnesses who were in St Peter’s Valley at the time of the incident to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 612612 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
