FRIENDS of an online gaming fan who was killed in a head-on collision with a bus in West Wickham yesterday cannot believe he has died.

The 23-year-old Anerley resident, who has been named locally as Luke Mort, was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.20am today (October 26).

He was driving his black Fiat Punto when it collided with a double decker bus at around 10.38pm last night (October 25).

A backseat passenger in his car sustained a head injury and was taken to the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH), Farnborough, where she later died.

It is believed she was called Charlotte and was also in her early 20s.

Gary Adams and Darren Price, from St Paul’s Cray, and Phillip White, 25, from Sydenham, first met Mr Mort when they played video games online.

They said he split his time between working as a builder, spending time with his girlfriend and her two children and playing on his X Box 360 games console.

It is not known whether his partner was in the vehicle at the time of accident.

Mr Price, 23, said: “I just never believed that something like that would happen to someone as good as him.

“It is still sinking in.

“I called him Deko because of his X Box online name.

“That’s what I knew him as.”

'He was a genuine bloke'

Mr Adams woke up to a phonecall telling him that his friend was dead.

The 23-year-old said: “I did not believe it.

“I will remember him smiling and he was always laughing and joking.”

He added: “He was a hard working decent person.”

Mr White said: “He was a genuine bloke.”

Floral tributes

Floral tributes to both victims have been left at the scene in Corkscrew Hill.

One reads: “Charlotte x.

“You are the most beautiful person I will ever know.

“I love you so much.

“Luke will take care of you.

“We’ll never forget you, “Louise, Kai and Ollie.”

Another one says: “To my sweetest baby Lukey, I love you more than you will ever know.

“I’m sorry I never said it enough.

“I’m sorry I never held your hand.

“I miss you so much.

“Sweet dreams, my boo boo xxx, I love you.”

Three other women were in the car when the collision happened.

One of them, also suffering from a head injury, was also taken to the PRUH.

Another patient was taken to Mayday Hospital, Croydon, and the third patient was taken to Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill.

A police spokesman says two of them are in a serious but stable condition and the third is critically ill.

The bus driver was treated for shock but no-one travelling on the double decker was badly injured.

A resident who lives near to the crash scene says one of the people laying flowers told him that Mr Mort was giving the women a lift back after they had been to a lingerie party.

This has not been confirmed by police.

At this stage it is not thought any other vehicles were involved.

The Met police’s collision investigation unit at Catford traffic garage is investigating the incident.

There have been no arrests.

Do you know anyone who was in the crash or did you see what happened? Call the newsroom on 01689 885725 or click here to send us an email.