Tributes paid to ‘wonderful’ Burgess Hill father-of-three, 28, who died in tragic Newhaven road incident

Jack Stevens, from Burgess Hill, died after timber fell from a lorry on to his BMW car on New Road shortly after 7.30am on Wednesday, May 13, according to Sussex Police.

The 28-year-old has been described by his family as a ‘wonderful’ father to his three children - Oscar, eight, Olivia, five and Theo, two.

He was also well-loved by his colleagues at B&Q, where he worked as a store manager in Newhaven, having previously worked at branches in Worthing, Bognor Regis, Shoreham and Brighton.

His parents Amanda and Keith Stevens said: “Jack was a lovely son, kind and caring with a unique sense of humour, and always ready to lend a helping hand if need be.

“He was well-liked by all who knew him, including his friends and colleagues at work who have been described as a second family to him, and many were traumatised by his death, as we have been.

“He was also a wonderful father to his three young children, who will now have to grow up without their father’s guiding hand and love. We, as their grandparents, can only try to emulate that love and to keep his memory alive for them.”

Jack also leaves behind his sister Lauren, who is devastated by his passing, and his beloved grandmother Anne, who thought the world of him, his parents added.

They said: “It’s hard to find the words for how we feel at the moment. Obviously grief, but also despair that we will not see our son anymore.

“We are not sure how we as a family will cope in the coming months and years without him, but for the sake of his three young children we must try to do the best we can for them and for each other.”

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