A young Selby woman who escaped with cuts and bruises in a horrific crash which killed her teenage boyfriend said today she could not believe he was gone.

Dale Stoakes, 17, died after his 100cc Peugeot scooter collided with a Toyota car in Union Lane, Selby, yesterday.

Dale was on his way to work and was only 50 metres from the factory where he was a fabricator when the accident happened.

His girlfriend of two years Lucy Tymon, also 17, who was riding pillion passenger, today relived the nightmare.

She said: "I was looking at where Dale worked and the next minute we were skidding along the floor with my leg caught under the scooter.

"We were scraping along the road and the next thing I remember was waking up in the ambulance.

"I was laid on a trolley in York District Hospital when they told me Dale had died. I just burst into tears - I couldn't believe he was gone.

"We were really close and I already felt part of the family.

"I went to see Dale with his father before we left hospital. It was heartbreaking."

Selby College student Lucy, formerly of Petre Avenue, Selby, was speaking at her new home at Station Cottages, Barlow, where she lived with Dale and his father, Keith.

She said Dale was dropping her off at her mother Helen Whatling's home in St John's Square, Selby, when the tragedy happened.

The couple had just spent a week's holiday together and it was Dale's first day back at work.

Mr Stoakes, 47, a lorry driver, said he broke down when hospital staff told him his son had died.

He said: "I'm absolutely gutted. I've lost a best mate as well as my only child.

"He was a well-liked lad who made loads of friends at Selby College where he was on an engineering course before starting work.

"His mates were ringing all day yesterday, and a lot of them were crying over the phone.

"He lived for Lucy, his motocross riding and his dog, Gizz."

Dale, who was a member of West Riding Motocross Club, worked at Selby firm Pendant Aluminium.

The firm's managing director, Eddie Aspinall, said: "Dale had been with us for four months. He was a nice young lad and a good worker."

Dale's lecturer at Selby College, Carol Collins, said today: "He was a brilliant student who came on leaps and bounds."

The driver of the Toyota, Ian Maw, of The Ruddings, Selby, was uninjured.

Police are appealing for witnesses who should contact Selby Police Station on 01757 702596.

selby@ycp.co.uk