Tributes have been paid to a "truly amazing" man who died after a crash on New Year's Day.
The man, named locally as Ben, is believed to have been a paramedic who worked for North West Ambulance service. The 31-year-old died after a crash on Sunday, January 1 involving a Renault Scenic and Nissan Almera on Mossborough Road, in Rainford.
Ben had been driving the Nissan and despite the best effort of emergency services, he died. The driver and passenger of the Renault, a man and a woman, suffered serious injuries. They are not believed to be life threatening.
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Friends and colleagues of Ben have taken to social media to express their condolences and share tributes to the paramedic. Jean Loyden Cooney said: "Stand down Ben. You served every single person well. You was a truly amazing colleague, friend, a boss dad to your kids and a husband to your loving wife.
"You will be truly missed but remembered always as the funny, easy go lad you was who touched the hearts of everyone. Your last stand down Ben. Rest easy mate."
Kat Keith Edwards commented: "One of the best out there, forever in our hearts." While Kirsty Harrison added: "RIP Ben, thinking of your family and colleagues at this sad time."
On the ECHO article about the crash, a user commented: "We lost a fab paramedic, a friend, two kids lost their dad, a wife, her soulmate.
"He was working yesterday and going back to work this morning. Rest easy mate. I feel for his colleagues who attended this scene. Heart-breaking and a nightmare rolled into one."
Another added: "Yes he will be very sadly missed by a great many people. A lot of people knew Ben and never had a bad word to say about him. One of the best. So very tragic."
A third said: "Rip la was a paramedic as well." With someone replying: "One of the best."
Merseyside police are now appealing for witnesses following the crash. They also confirmed his next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
Sergeant Simon Duffy from our Roads Policing Unit said: “Our thoughts and condolences are with the family of the driver who very sadly passed away.
“An investigation into the collision is in the very stages and I would appeal for anyone who was in the area of Blind Foot Road/Mossborough Road who saw anything or believes they have captured anything significant on their dash cam to contact us.”
Anyone who witnessed the collision or captured anything on CCTV or dashcam is asked to contact SCIU on (0151) 777 5747, or email SCIU@merseyside.police.uk. Alternatively, DM @MerPolCC quoting log 505 of January 1.
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