JOCKEY Benjamin Messina has tragically died aged 19 in a head-on car crash – just six days after riding a winner.
The promising jumps jockey was involved in a two-car pile-up that sadly claimed the lives of three people, Equidia report.
Messina, from France, was involved in the crash at around 3.30am Sunday morning.
Emergency services including 15 firefighters rushed to the scene in Marigne-Peuton, between Rennes and Le Mans.
A 31-year-old man and 26-year-old woman are also said to have died.
According to reports in France, firefighters said the three victims were 'imprisoned' in their vehicles after the crash.
The awful news came in the same week that Messina rode a winner the previous Monday aboard Hunion Delabrairie at Craon.
And his sad death comes just three weeks after he tasted his first success on the racecourse.
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Messina, who had 51 rides in all and was from Athee, made his debut aboard Fairy Of Light in January last year.
The Mirror reported the jockey was due to ride the horse he had first first success on, Gag Du Boulay, at Corlay on Sunday.
The horse won with Maxime Bonsergent taking the ride.
Former Brit jockey Jacob Pritchard Webb was among those paying tribute to Messina.
He wrote alongside a picture of Messina on Twitter: "This young lad had it all there as raw potential.
"The trainer to the right him gave me my best days in the saddle and he would have done the same for this young man!
"RIP Benjamin your success will be treasured."
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