Family tribute after Northampton pensioners and grandson die in tipper lorry crash

Jean and Fred Pritchard died in the collision on Tuesday with their grandson.

Northamptonshire Police has issued the following statement on behalf of the family of three people who sadly died in a road traffic collision when their Vauxhall Corsa collided head-on with a tipper lorry on the A43 in Northamptonshire.

Stuart Ratcliffe, aged 40, from Rothwell and his grandparents, Fred, aged 98, and his wife Jean, aged 90, from Northampton were all pronounced dead at the scene, on the stretch of road between Sywell roundabout and the Hannington turn on Tuesday, February 18.

Stuart was a loving husband and father, who leaves behind Lisa and their two boys, Tristan and Finley.

Stuart Ratcliffe was in the car with his grandparents on Tuesday.

The mother of Stuart and daughter of Fred and Jean, Diane Bates, said on behalf of the family: “We are just totally devastated at losing Stuart and my parents, and words cannot describe the loss and sorrow we are feeling.

“This will leave a massive hole in our hearts for the rest of our lives and we are all going to truly miss Stuart and my parents. It’s not until now, with all the messages we have received, that you realise just how much they were all loved by so many people.”

Together the family pay tribute to their loved ones stating “in loving memory of Jean and Fred Pritchard and Stuart Ratcliffe. God bless them and rest in peace.”