THE father of a teenager who died in a road traffic accident has spoken of the continuing agony of the family’s loss two years on.

Jamie Fortune, 18, was killed when his motorbike collided with a car in Kingston Road, Taunton on July 1, 2013.

His family are still struggling to come to terms with the loss of “a fun-loving, bright young man”.

His father, John, said: “They say time heals, but when one of your children dies in such a tragic way, time doesn’t make it any better.

“It’s as fresh today as the day it happened. It doesn’t get any easier.

“I find it hard to even talk about it.

“Getting out of bed every day, walking past his bedroom door and looking it, it hurts as much as ever.”

Jamie’s family and friends are marking the anniversary of his passing by handing over cheques for £1,000 to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Brake, a charity for families bereaved in road accidents, followed by a ride-out to Minehead.

They have raised the money by selling wristbands, lanyards, raffles and collection pots at various businesses.

“We’ve raised money by doing everything possible we could think of and I’m really touched by what everyone’s done in Jamie’s memory,” said Mr Fortune.

“So many families have lost children since Jamie’s accident and I know exactly what they’re going through.

“That’s why we’re doing anything we can to help these charities – if it helps save someone’s life, then it’s been worthwhile.”

Jamie’s friends set up a memorial to him in the wake of his death at the site of the tragic accident and hold vigils there to remember him.