The family of a man who died following a road traffic collision in Torquay have paid tribute to “a fine young man” who made everyone around him laugh.
Emergency services were called to Torwood Street at around 5.05pm on Sunday 31 August after reports of a collision involving a black Audi Q5, a blue Suzuki SV 650 motorcycle and a grey Ford Ranger.
Sadly, the motorcycle rider, 24-year-old Ben Rafton, from Southampton but originally of Plymouth, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Ben’s dad Barrie, said: “Ben, from the happy baby you were to the fine young man you grew into.
“The short time you were given in life has been an extraordinary journey filled with a number of adventures.
“Your magnetic personality, your infectious smile and laughter will be missed by many.
“As your dad my heart has been broken and my battle will be difficult beyond words.
“Sleep peacefully my precious youngest son, watch over us and keep us safe. Always in our hearts.”
Ben’s mum Somaya, added: “I can’t describe how much I miss my boy Ben. We spoke every day and FaceTimed pretty much 10 times within that day.
“Even though he didn’t live near me it was like he was down the road. He used to visit me all the time, it was never a chore for him to drive three hours down and up in the same day.
“Where do I start to tell you how amazing he was, not just to me but to everybody he met. He loved his brothers and his dad, he loved his nieces and nephews – he just loved children even though he didn’t have his own.
“I knew if he ever had children he would be the best daddy and would always be there for them through everything. Ben loved life, made me and everyone around him laugh, that was him, he just wanted to make people happy.
“The last messages I had from him was ‘Iove you mum’ which was him more than once a day.
“He was very generous and he would always buy his nieces and nephews ridiculously expensive presents – but Ben loved to do that.
“Ben was a mummy’s boy who just wanted me to be happy. He will be missed and a massive part of me is empty at this moment. I hope in time I will be able to make some sense of this tragedy but at the moment, I can’t even imagine how I will get through today or tomorrow or ever without him.
“Thank you to everybody that has reached out and send me beautiful flowers, messages and have helped me run my business whilst I grieve the loss of my son Ben.”
Police confirmed that, following initial enquiries, the driver of the Audi – a man in his 20s from Plymouth, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has since been released under investigation.
Officers are appealing for witnesses to the collision and for anyone with relevant dash-cam footage to contact police via the website or by calling 101, quoting log 549 of 31st August 2025.
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