THE family of the 20-year-old who died in a fatal car crash on the A449 near Usk on Monday described Robert Smith as a “wonderful son and loving big brother”.

Mr Smith was involved in a collision on the A449 near Usk on September 9 at just after 2pm, when the transit van he was travelling in collided with a lorry.

In a tragic day for Gwent, another young driver was killed within hours. Gwent police named the man who died in a collision near Abergavenny at around 6.50pm as 21-year-old Robert Bell.

The family of Mr Smith, from Bridgend, said in a statement: “Robert was a wonderful son to Garry and Catherine, he was a loving big brother to Andrew (18), grandson, uncle, boyfriend, nephew and cousin, as well as a good friend and colleague to many. He will be so sadly missed by everyone that knew him and his death will leave a large void in many people’s lives.

“His family would like to thank everyone for their kindness and support given since they received the tragic news and they would also like to pass on their support and thoughts to the family of the driver who have been so sadly affected as a result of this tragic situation.”

The man travelling with Mr Smith in the van, a 47 year old also from Bridgend, remains in a critical condition after he was airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, with multiple severe head injuries.

The driver of the lorry, a 57 year old man from the Birmingham area, suffered minor injuries and has been released from hospital.

Robert Bell, 21, from Long Sutton in Somerset, was killed in the collision between four vehicles on the A4042 between Llanellen Bridge and the Hardwick Roundabout in Abergavenny. The crash involved two lorries, a blue Ford Focus and a Vauxhall Combo van.

Mr Bell, who had been driving the Ford Focus, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other drivers were taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries while the driver of the fourth vehicle was not injured.

This follows the crash last Friday in which 11-year-old Harrison Marshall and 44-year-old Ryan Griffiths, both from Chepstow, were killed in a crash on the A466 Wye Valley Link Road.

Police officers are keen to speak to people who may have seen the collisions. Anyone with information can call the police on 101, quoting log 229 09/09/13 for the A449 crash and log 449 09/09/13 for the A4042.