Tribute to Halstead worker who died in crash one year on from his death

Erikas Eicas was just 19 when he was killed in a car crash back on August 2, 2020.

The Halstead teenager, who was known to many as Eric, was pronounced dead at the scene after the red Ford Fiesta he was travelling in as a passenger hit a tree on Coggeshall Road between Coggeshall and Earls Colne.

An inquest in to Eric's death found he died as a result of suffering severe chest injuries.

The reaction to his death was heartfelt with an outpouring of tributes to Eric, who worked for Michaels Property Consultants in their Colchester office.

Friends of Eric even raised more than £11,500 in order to pay for his funeral and also install a memorial bench in his honour.

Now, one year on from the day of his death, Eric's former employers have led with a tribute to their friend and promising colleague.

Michael's Property Consultants said: "All of the team at Michaels Property Consultants will always be forever grateful for having the opportunity to have worked with such a man.

"He remains in our thoughts all of the time and our thoughts are also with his loved ones, as today marks a year since his passing."

Eric was a popular and loved member of the Michaels team (Michaels)

Co-founder Michael Simpson described Eric as "selfless, dedicated, caring and kind" and even spoke at his funeral.

At the funeral, he added: "Eric began his training and took to the job like a duck to water, he developed at an astonishing rate and within days, if not hours stole the hearts of his colleagues and customers alike. Everyone adored him.

"It was clear that Eric wanted to make something of himself, he had ambition, determination and drive - bags of it.

"I can hand on heart say that Eric was the most dedicated, hard working and committed person to his job and career I’ve ever met and we were so very lucky to have him. He was a star in the making.

"But those things don’t come anywhere near to justifying what a special person Eric was.

"Eric had such a genuinely good heart and an amazing soul, he was constantly going out of his way to help people day in day out, with no task or gesture too big or too small.

"There are too many examples of this to count during the time we had Eric in our lives but the shock wave this terrible tragedy has sent through our company, the devastation it has caused his friends, colleagues and even clients is testament to that.

"He meant so much to each and every one of us at Michaels, everyone had their own special relationship with him for different reasons, he was truly one of a kind, irreplaceable.

"A son-like figure to some of us, a little brother to others. I cannot even put into words the sadness, confusion and pain losing him, at such a young age and with so much to give, has caused us all, and we only had the pleasure of knowing him a year.

"To a remarkable young man, one that has had such an unimaginable impact on us all, we love and adore you. I promise we will always keep his memory alive."