The family of a private ambulance driver who died in a horror crash called him the “best dad any kid could have” in a heartbreaking tribute.

Kev Goldsmith, who was driving the Ford Transit, has been named as the victim of the collision with a truck on the A251 near Faversham yesterday afternoon.

He died at the scene and police are appealing for the public’s help as they investigate the tragedy.

It is understood Kev, who was in his 50s, lived in Sheerness and worked for Dignity Funeral Services in Sittingbourne as a private ambulance driver.

In an emotional tribute shared with KentOnline, the crash victim’s ex-wife and “best friend” Tracey Goldsmith said: “This man is just the best dad any kid could have.

“Max and Maci are the luckiest kids to call him dad.

“He lived for our ‘dynamic duo’ as you all saw daily.

“Sadly yesterday Kev Goldsmith was involved in a serious accident at work and he did not survive.

“Our world is absolutely shattered and I have no idea how to deal with life without my best mate here.

“We were divorced as you all know but he was my rock and support and my biggest fan.

“He always had my back no matter what - how can this be real?”

Mrs Goldsmith left another tribute on Kev’s Facebook page, calling him the “best dad ever”.

“I have not told you in a very long time that you are great,” she said.

“You are a great dad and you were my best friend.

“You did so much for me and the kids and I never told you how much I appreciated you and now it is too late.

“I do not know how to do this without you here.

“I will make sure I do the best I can for our babies.

“We are going to miss you more than you will ever know.”

His niece Shona Dewey sent an emotional tribute to KentOnline, describing her uncle as “loving, funny, caring and an incredible daddy” to his two children.

She says he was also a brother, son and uncle.

“Nothing in this world could have prepared any of our family for this utterly heartbreaking news,” she said.

“Uncle Kev loved spending time with his two children and making sure they were loved and knew they were loved every moment of every day.

“He always had some really weird dad jokes which we all found quite amusing and he would always put others before himself.

“Kev loved his nickname ‘Smiffy’ because of his surname, Goldsmith. As you can understand, our family is completely heartbroken and unable to understand why this happened.

“Uncle Kev, we will miss you so much and we love you more than you will ever know.”

Other people have paid tribute to Kev on Facebook, with John Dewey writing: “Only seeing you a few days ago all smiling and joking, I can’t believe you are gone.”

Officers are appealing for the public’s help as they investigate the tragedy, which happened near the sliproad for the M2.

A police spokesperson said: “Witnesses and dashcam footage are sought following a fatal collision in Faversham.

“At about 2.20pm yesterday, a dark grey Ford Transit panel van was travelling along the A251 Ashford Road towards Faversham, when it was involved in a collision with a white DAF truck coming in the opposite direction.

“The incident happened just after the junction for the slip road onto the London-bound carriageway of the M2.”

Anyone who witnessed the crash or saw the vehicles beforehand is urged to call the witness appeal line on 01622 798538, quoting HW/SS/022/24.

People with information about the crash can email investigators at sciu.td@kent.police.uk or follow this link to upload dashcam footage.

The road was closed for several hours in the aftermath to allow police to clear the road and investigate the circumstances of the crash.