My amazing son died after a car crash with Love Island star Kem Cetinay…he was larger than life & we’re heartbroken
A DAD has paid tribute to his “amazing” son who died after a car crash with Love Island star Kem Cetinay.
Tommy Griggs, 28, was killed after he crossed into Kem’s lane on a bend and hit his £130,000 Mercedes G Wagon.
The skip hire boss’ father Kevin has now paid tribute to his boy, saying he was “larger than life”.
Kevin was speaking at an inquest today where it was revealed Tommy had cannabis in his system at the time of the crash on August 4 last year.
The 28-year-old was flung 20ft across the road after his motorcycle collided head-on with Kem‘s car.
He had been speeding on his Suzuki bike – doing up to 44mph just before the smash on a 30mph road, the inquest heard.
His father Kevin said the 28-year-old would be remembered as a “loveable rouge”.
He said in court: “Our amazing son Tommy was larger than life.
“He was our loveable rogue.
“He would never judge a book by its cover.”
Tommy had 20 times the legal limit for cannabis compound THC in his system at the time of the smash in Romford, Essex.
He was also speeding and on a bike not covered by his learner’s licence.
Kem, 27, was driving below the speed limit and passed a breathalyser test at the scene. He was never arrested nor suspected of any wrongdoing.
After the incident, Kem’s representative said the Love Island star offered his “prayers and sympathies” to Tommy’s loved ones.
Senior Coroner Graeme Irvine said: “Mr Cetinay was relatively straightforward… effectively, he says he came round the bend, he believed he was travelling at the speed limit, and as soon as he came round the bend, he saw the motorcycle travelling in his lane.
“He said that the whole incident happened very, very quickly.
“He held on to the steering wheel but couldn’t give a clear recollection of whether he even had time to brake.”
Mr Irvine said of Kem: “The evidence before me is that he was driving his own motor vehicle, he was the registered keeper, fully insured, he had a full licence that had no points on it.
“At the point of the collision, there was absolutely nothing that Mr Cetinay could have done to avoid the impending collision with Tommy.”
The court heard how Tommy’s cause of death was multiple injuries due to blunt force trauma.
He suffered a brain bleed and injury to the aorta, the body’s largest blood vessel, and Mr Irvine concluded he died from the catastrophic injuries caused in the smash.