The father of a baby boy who died after a collision in Waterbeach paid tribute to his son.

Louis’s father, Chris Thorold, who is the finance director of Marshall Aerospace, said: “We will love you always our little Louis.

"You were only with us for a short time, but you made us the happiest people in the world.

“I cannot describe how heartbroken we are that you are gone. You are such a happy little boy and your joyful smile and laughter will never leave us.

“Your ma-ma is fighting to stay with us and we are praying that she will make it through.

“You will always be in our hearts and do not worry, I am taking care of all your animals. “We love you so much and we know you will now be safe with granny, grandad and great grandpa in heaven.

“Take care my little Lou, sweet dreams.”


Cambs Times: Louis and Rachael Thorold.Louis and Rachael Thorold. (Image: Family)

The father of a baby boy who died after a collision in Waterbeach paid tribute to his son.

Louis’s father, Chris Thorold, who is the finance director of Marshall Aerospace, said: “We will love you always our little Louis.

"You were only with us for a short time, but you made us the happiest people in the world.

“I cannot describe how heartbroken we are that you are gone. You are such a happy little boy and your joyful smile and laughter will never leave us.

“Your ma-ma is fighting to stay with us and we are praying that she will make it through.

“You will always be in our hearts and do not worry, I am taking care of all your animals. “We love you so much and we know you will now be safe with granny, grandad and great grandpa in heaven.

“Take care my little Lou, sweet dreams.”

The incident happened at about 3.50pm on Friday (January 22) on the A10, Ely Road, when a grey Mazda 2 was in collision with a white Renault Master van.

The van left the road and hit Rachael Thorold, 36, of Gibson Close, Waterbeach, and her baby Louis in a pushchair.

Ms Thorold, who is currently on maternity leave from her role as a planning policy manager for Elmbridge Borough Council, is in a critical but stable condition at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

The driver of the van and the driver of the Mazda suffered slight injuries and remained at the scene.

Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone who may have dashcam footage of the collision or moments leading up to it.

Anyone with information should call 101 or visit www.cambs.police.uk/report quoting incident 278 of 22 January.

Villagers have reacted in grief, horror and many with a determination to both support the family and to campaign for safety improvements.

One woman described on a village Facebook group that she lives alongside the A10 and her family were now frightened to visit after what had happened.

Another wrote that “I held my boy so flipping hard last night and this morning and haven't stop telling him I love him”.

Many residents are looking to begin a GoFundMe page to support the family.

There is growing anger, too, in the village that the path where the tragedy occurred had been flagged up as dangerous for many years.

“I use exactly that path to walk (or cycle) into Waterbeach with my children,” said one villager.

“I never want to do it again. What will it take for them to do something with that horrible junction?”

MP Lucy Frazer is being approached by some in the village to campaign for immediate safety measures.