A HEARTBROKEN mother is today coming to terms with a double tragedy after her son was killed in a car accident on the way to her father's funeral.Henry Wingate, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene on Wednesday morning after his car overturned and ended on its roof on the B1077 at Ashbocking.

A HEARTBROKEN mother is today coming to terms with a double tragedy after her son was killed in a car accident on the way to her father's funeral.

Henry Wingate, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene on Wednesday morning after his car overturned and ended on its roof on the B1077 at Ashbocking.

The front-seat passenger, his brother's girlfriend, is fighting for her life in hospital.

The two other passengers, Henry's brother and a girl in her teens, suffered minor injuries.

Henry's mum, Candida Wingate, who lives in Laxfield, was too upset to talk last nightbut her partner, Nigel Nelson, said: “The family are very upset. It is just a tragic waste of a very fine young man.”

The small rural community of Laxfield is devastated by what has happened and is now rallying around the family.

Tony Oakes, Laxfield Parish Council chairman, said: “We are a very close knit community and Candida has several friends here and we have all rallied around. I just feel so bad, especially at this time of year.

“Anytime of year is bad but knowing what she has been through recently I feel absolutely gutted for the lady as she is a lovely person.

“I just do not know how she is ever going to get through this. It is absolutely devastating.”

Fiona Newton, vicar of All Saints Church, added: “A tragedy like the loss of a child is perhaps the worst that any family can imagine.

“The family is surrounded by the sympathy, love and the prayers of the village and all that know them. Prayers have been said twice in the village church and candles have been lit in Henry's memory.”

The white Renault Clio car overturned on the B1077 at 10.15am on Wednesday. It later emerged that engineers working for Suffolk County Council had gritted the road on Tuesday afternoon but it was understood the decision was made that it was not necessary to repeat the gritting on the morning of the accident.

Another car had spun on the ice earlier in the morning but nobody was injured.

Henry was originally from the Woodbridge area but lived in Norwich.