By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 12:23, Saturday, 09 March 2013

A popular young dad who has died in a car crash was a lovely person and credit to his community, one of his former teachers has said.

Robin Hewitt, 19, died on Thursday night after the BMW in which he was a back-seat passenger crashed into a tree at Eamont Bridge, near Penrith.

The tragedy happened on the B5320 on the outskirts of Eamont Bridge.

Police arrested the driver of car, a 23-year-old Penrith man, on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. Neither he nor a second passenger in the car are thought to have been seriously injured.

Both were checked over at The Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle after the crash.

Some of those who knew Mr Hewitt, of Milner Mount, Penrith, have spoken of their shock at his death.

There was a warm tribute from George McWilliams, pastoral manager at Penrith’s Ullswater Community College where Mr Hewitt was a pupil until the age of 16.

Mr McWilliams said: “Robin was popular with both students and staff at Ullswater Community College. He efficiently got on with school life, and was a valued member of our community.

“He quietly and conscientiously conducted himself in a manner that did the college great credit. Our condolences go out to his family at this time of their tragic loss.

“I was his head of year back in 2009 when he was here and nobody had a bad word for him. Robin was a lovely lad. His form tutor was very upset after hearing about this.

“His family will be devastated. His brother is currently one of our pupils.”

Mr Hewitt’s friend Mark Slee, 24, from Penrith, said people who knew him were devastated by his death.

He said that Mr Hewitt, the father of a young son, had been a laid back personality who was easy to get on with and somebody who would happily talk to anybody.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash, which happened at 11.24pm on Thursday, to get in touch.

Two fire crews from Penrith were called to the scene, and arrived to find the BMW overturned in a field.

A Cumbria police spokeswoman said: “The driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He will be interviewed by police when he is discharged from hospital.”

Police are not looking for anyone else or any other vehicle in connection with the collision.

After the tragedy, which happened on a long sweeping bend in the road, police closed the B5320 for several hours as officers examined the road and the BMW.

Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service station manager Conrad Leather said: “No firefighter wants to arrive to an incident like this, where a young person has lost their life.”

Any person who can help the police investigation should call Cumbria Roads Policing Unit on the force’s non-emergency number 101.

First published at 11:16, Saturday, 09 March 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk