Crash victim had just passed his test; Family grieve for 'the most wonderful son'.

Byline: Alastair Craig

A TEENAGER was killed when his car left a quiet country road and collided with a tree six days after passing his driving test.

Sam Gattens, 17, died when his red Vauxhall Corsa overturned on the B6341 near Lion Bridge, just outside Alnwick, Northumberland, in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The young golfing prodigy, from the Highfield Park area of the town, was driving with three friends, who all escaped serious injury.

Struggling to contain their grief, Sam's parents Michael and Catherine last night described the Duchess's High School student as "the son every family would wish for".

Mrs Gattens, 49, a ward manager at Wansbeck General Hospital in Ashington, said: "Sam was the most wonderful son anybody could ever want. The whole family adored him.

"His death has devastated us. We can't bear to imagine life without him.

"His brothers are inconsolable, as we are. Sam was an honest, caring lad and he didn't deserve to die so young." Police are still investigating the cause of the accident, which happened shortly before 2am close the viewpoint car park overlooking Alnwick Castle.

Mr Gattens, 56, a transport industry worker, paid tribute to his middle son, and told of his anguish at losing another loved one to the roads. "Sam loved everything about cars and he was itching to get his licence as soon as he could," he said.

"He saved up for a year to buy his own car and it was his pride and joy.

"He only passed his test last Monday.

It's so cruel. We'll miss him terribly. It brings things back because my brother died in road accident when he was 19. It's unbearable to have to go through this again. We will struggle to get over it." Floral tributes and Sunderland football shirts were already being placed at the crash scene by friends and family yesterday as daylight revealed the extent of the crash.

A mangled fence and damaged tree close to the sea of roses, carnations and lilies mark the spot where Sam's car left the road in so-far unexplained circumstances.

One friend, John Costa, left the message: "You were too good to go mate. You will be missed. You didn't have a bad bone in your body. RIP." Hannah Sogorski wrote: "Sam was a true friend with so much opportunity in front of him." Rachel Tait added: "Sleep tight Sam, never forgotten, always in our hearts." Sam worked part-time in the club shop at Swarland Golf Club and dreamed of turning professional in a sport at which he had already starred for his county. A talented all-round sportsman, the teenager, who had two brothers, Adam, 21, and Lewis, 14, was planning to apply to a golfing college after re-sitting his GCSEs.

With a handicap of just three, Sam would spend hours perfecting his shots on courses around Northumberland between hil studies.

As police sought witnesses, a spokeswoman said: "At 1.45am police were informed by the ambulance service of a Vauxhall Corsa having overturned at Lion

Bridge, North Peth, Alnwick. The driver of the vehicle, a 17-year-old boy, was pronounced dead at the scene. Three passengers were treated by paramedics for minor injuries.

"There was only one vehicle involved in the crash and the other passengers were not seriously hurt. Inquiries into the exact circumstances of the collision are ongoing." Anyone with information should call police on 03456 043043 ext 61374..

A FRIEND MOURNED

TRIBUTES are flooding in on a social networking site for Sam Gattens.

Just hours after the youngster was killed a tribute group was formed on social networking site Facebook.

And now touching messages have been left with people paying their respects, describing him as a talented footballer and golfer.

Martin Quince wrote: "Such a nice, funny lad and a great golfer.

Never saw him without a cheeky grin on his face. Won't be nice collecting our trophy without you mate, RIP. " The group, which was set up by Ryan Stalker and is called "Sam Gattens; Legend", reads: "Sam was great because he never had anything bad to say about anyone and the feeling was mutual. He was always a good friend. He worked hard at everything and I am very proud of him." Charlotte Pearson wrote: "You were unstoppable. You were a star when you were here and you will be a star up there."

CAPTION(S):

GRIEF Tributes mark the scene of the accident in which 17-year-old Sam Gattens, below, was killed.