Tribute paid following fatal collision in Sandown

A tribute has been paid to a man who died following a collision in Sandown on New Year's Eve.

Police were called at 5.17pm on Tuesday 31 December to a report of a collision on the roundabout junction of Avenue Road, High Street and Culver Parade, involving a grey Nissan Qashqai and a pedestrian.

The pedestrian, 48-year-old Jason Nicholls from Sandown, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital, where he later passed away.

His family are being supported by specialist officers and have now paid the following tribute:

"Jason John Nicholls, known to everyone as Jay, was our own personal ocean of wonders and experiences.

"There is no one else quite like him and his death this month is a heartbreaking loss to us all.

"Jay was embraced within lots of communities here on the island with his surf crews and his support network of friends and acquaintances - made wherever he trod.

"Jay's children, aged 18 and 22, are his proudest achievement. They and the rest of Jay's family please ask you to respect what would be his greatest wishes; Refrain from hurting us or others with social media comments and please keep our beaches clean."

A 73-year-old man from Brading was arrested at the time on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was subsequently released but remains under investigation.

No further arrests have been made since this time.

Our investigation is ongoing and we urge anyone with information or relevant dash cam footage to come forward.

If you have information, please call 101 quoting reference 44240566663.