Family pay tribute to Gary and Joanne Vincent

The husband and wife died following a collision in Ashes Road, Cressing, on August 14, 2017, and an inquest into their deaths took place earlier this week.

In a statement, the family said: "We could never have imagined how the events of August 14 2017, and the days that followed, would change our lives.

"The loss of our much loved mum and dad, daughter, sibling, niece, aunt and uncle, cousin, and friend has left a gaping hole in all of our lives.

"We lost Joanne’s love for her family, for her dogs and her vocal opinion on any given subject - ranging from the weather to politics, via the price of an ice-cream.

"We lost Gary’s calm voice of reason, his sense of humour and his ability to fix everything from a computer to a broken gear box.

"We miss being able to talk to them, to share the good times and the bad.

"At every family occasion there are always two faces missing. Mostly, we just miss their physical presence in our lives.

"We would like to thank the members of all the emergency services who attended on that day, Essex Police’s family liaison officers Heidi and Dawn, and the staff of Addenbrooke’s and Broomfield hospitals for the care they gave to Gary.

"We would also like to thank the members of the public who rushed to try and help Joanne and Gary in the immediate aftermath of the accident. It was a comfort to us to know that they were not alone before the emergency services arrived on the scene.

"Finally, we would like to thank our amazing extended family and friends who have walked every step of this nightmare journey with us. We are so grateful for your continuing love and support.

"Nothing can ever change what happened that day, but today finally gives us some closure and allows us to move on from those events.

"Joanne and Gary were together for 30 years - Joanne died 10 days before their 29th Wedding anniversary. They didn’t know how to not be together. They never knew what it was like to be apart."