An American airman who died following a road traffic collision in Suffolk was yesterday named as23-year-old Jacob Butler.Senior Airman Butler, who was a member of the 48th Component Maintenance Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, died after his purple Volvo S40 car left the A1095 near Reydon, near Southwold, and collided with a tree.

An American airman who died following a road traffic collision in Suffolk was on Friday named as

23-year-old Jacob Butler.

Senior Airman Butler, who was a member of the 48th Component Maintenance Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, died after his purple Volvo S40 car left the A1095 near Reydon, near Southwold, and collided with a tree.

The airman, of Georgia, USA, suffered head and chest injuries

and died at the James Paget

University Hospital, in Gorleston, in the early hours of Wednesday following the crash at about 10.15pm on Tuesday.

Tributes were yesterday paid to the airman who was an aircraft sensor team member at RAF Lakenheath, who had been based in the UK since April 2007.

A memorial service is scheduled to take place next Friday.

Col Scott Reed, 48th Fighter Wing Vice Commander, said: “The 48th Fighter Wing suffered a tragic loss yesterday. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends and colleagues.”

Senior Airman Butler is the 22nd person to have died on Suffolk's roads this year and the second airman from RAF Lakenheath to have died in a road traffic collision in 2008.

Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact PC Paul Carr at the serious collision investigation team at Suffolk police on 01473 613500.