Tributes paid to car crash victim

The devastated parents of a 30-year-old killed in a car crash just days after his birthday paid tribute to him today.

Paul Woodcroft, from Norton Canes, died after his Honda S200 left the carriageway on the A449 Stafford Road, near Coven, and hit a tree on Saturday.

Speaking from their Norton East Road home, which they shared with their son, Denise and Derek Woodcroft were still coming to terms with their loss, but insisted the computer software worker was not the type of person to drink and drive, or speed inresponsibly.

Mrs Woodcroft said: "I don't want people putting two and two together because he had a certain type of car. We think he must have lost control and hit a tree. Anything could have caused it.

"To put into words how we feel is very difficult. We are stunned by what has happened and struggling to accept that Paul is gone. His death has hit all of us very hard.

"He has always been very healthy, never having been sick or had to go to the doctor.

"Only a few days ago Paul had celebrated his 30th birthday."

According to his parents, Paul lived his life to the full having taking part in bungee and parachute jumps, and made plans to climb Mount Everest in December.

The former Norton Canes High School pupil worked at Premier Software, in Hollies Business Park, Cannock, and his parents think he had been to a pub in Penkridge with a colleague before the accident.

Mr Woodcroft said: "He didn't really drink. On his 21st birthday he didn't drink all night. He was always drinking Red Bull and energy drinks."

The accident happened 200 yards from two islands at Brewood Road, known locally as The Spectacles islands, at 10.55pm on Saturday (30).

Fire, police and ambulance crews were called to the accident site just before 11pm, and Paul was pronounced dead at the scene.

The front seat passenger, Thomas Bibb, 22, a colleague and friend of Paul's, suffered minor injuries and concussion.

The road was closed for three hours while police carried out an investigation at the scene.

Mr Bibb was taken to New Cross Hospital for treatment. According to Mr and Mrs Woodcroft, Paul's passenger has no memory of the collision.

Witnesses can call police on 0300 1234455 quoting reference number 937 of January 29, 2011.