Family pay tribute to motorcyclist killed in collision near Temple Guiting

The family of a motorcyclist who died in a collision have described him as a man "with a smile that could light up the sky".

Zachariah Wolfson, aged 20, died when his Honda CB650R motorcycle was involved in a collision with a white Volkswagen transporter panel van.

The collision happened on the evening of Wednesday 29 April at the Trafalgar Crossroads near the B4077 in Temple Guiting.

Zachariah, who was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, had moved to the UK with his family when he was 15, when they settled in Oxfordshire.

In a statement, his family said: “Zachariah was a young man with a smile that could light up the sky, ready for an adventure at the drop of a hat, and from an early age his passion was to become a pilot.

“Zachariah had a unique way of existing in the world, he found adventure wherever he went, making friends easily and connecting deeply with all of them. He didn’t just move through his days; he infected all the people around him with his presence.

“He raced downhill mountain bikes from the age of eight, and in later years took up trials bike riding, rebuilt and rode a motocross bike, and most recently loved taking to the open roads on a beautiful spring afternoon on his beloved Honda. 

“Zach had just returned from a six-week holiday in South Africa where he reconnected with family and friends alike, revisiting his favourite places and discovering new ones. He returned to the UK with a plan for his future which was to work towards becoming a helicopter pilot. 

“Zachariah was deeply loved by his parents, his three siblings, his partner, and his friends.  We know that the silence and the hole he leaves behind is profound. Zachariah was a young man who burned bright, who loved deeply, and has taught us all that life isn't a dress rehearsal— it is an experience to be grabbed with both hands. He was taken far too soon. We will carry him with us in every open road, every great adventure, and every moment of deep love we choose to embrace.

“Zachariah, may the wind push you onward and the sun light your path. And may the spirit of the ride carry you high enough to leave the world behind and fly with the angels in heaven.

“Ride On and Fly High.”

The driver of the van, a man in his 20s from Worcestershire, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving in connection with the collision.

He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Anyone with information about the collision can submit it to police by completing the following online form and quoting occurrence 53260030049: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/