A car passenger killed in a horrific Shropshire road smash was a 17-year-old boy, it was revealed today.

Matthew Latham-Jones was killed in the crash on Saturday morning.

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Matthew was a former pupil at The Maelor School at Penley, near Ellesmere, which confirmed the teenager had died in the tragedy.

Headteacher Eiddwyn Hall today paid tribute to the boy, who is thought to come from North Wales.

Investigations were continuing today into the smash, in which two others were injured after their car crashed into a house.

The collision happened on the B5476 at Sleap, near Wem, at about 1.45am on Saturday.

A blue Nissan Almera left the road and crashed into the front of a house in Shrewsbury Road, Sleap.

The driver and a passenger, both in their early 20s, were taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital by ambulance.

Mr John Ellery, coroner for mid and north Shropshire, has been informed and police are continuing to investigate.

Richard Ewels, police spokesman, said today the Nissan was travelling from the Wem direction towards Shrewsbury when it left the road on its offside, crashing through a fence before hitting the front of a house.

Mr Hall said: “We are shocked and saddened to hear the tragic news about Matthew. Matthew joined the Maelor School at the end of Year 9 and quickly settled down into his new school.

“He was a polite, cheerful and likeable young man who made friends easily. Matthew had a very positive attitude to life and always showed his gratitude for help and support he received from the staff at the school.

“His warm personality enabled him to get on well with both staff and peers alike. Matthew will be sorely missed by both staff and students and our thoughts at this difficult time, are with his family.”

Hazel Rees, assistant headteacher at Thomas Adams School, Wem, said Matthew had been a pupil at the school when he was younger and the two people injured in the crash were also former pupils.

She said: “We would just like to say our thoughts go out to all the families invo-lved in this tragic accident.”

By Deborah Collins