In three days time, Richard Adams should have been celebrating his son's first birthday.

Instead, his family is trying to come to terms with the death of the 34 year-old Solihull businessman after he was killed by a speeding high performance car.

Mr Adams (pictured), a chartered surveyor, died when a high-powered Subaru going at speeds estimated by witnesses at more than 100mph in Cuckoo Road, Nechells, Birmingham, struck the central reservation and landed on top of his VW Golf.

He had been on his way to see his wife Susan, a journalist, and their son Blake, during his lunch break on Friday so he could buy a present for the youngster who is one on Thursday.

Yesterday, a 19-year-old youth arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving was released on police bail.

Three others - one aged 15, the others 16 - were released over the weekend.

Paying tribute to Mr Adams yesterday, his business partner UKIP Midland MEP Mike Nattrass said: "I don't know what we're going to do without him. He was an excellent person.

"Susan is completely shattered, her world has collapsed. She is completely heartbroken. He loved her and his son to pieces."

Mr Adams was a partner in Nattrass Giles and, according to Mr Nattrass, due to have taken over the company in three years.

A UKIP member, he had contested the Meriden seat for the party in the 2001 General Election and the Stoke-on-Trent South seat for the Referendum Party in 1997.

In a statement, Susan said: "He was a wonderful man, husband and father. Words cannot describe how I feel."

According to Mr Nattrass, Mr Adams had arranged to see Susan and their son on Friday lunchtime so he could buy a present for Blake. His wife was waiting for him at a shopping complex and heard the sirens of emergency vehicles going to the scene of the crash.

"She was waiting but he never got there. She wondered why he was so late. She'd waited nearly an hour and then went home and started ringing the office."

It was later that afternoon that Mr Nattrass and a police officer arrived at the family's Solihull home to break the news.

"The police officer told her and it was shattering. She said 'I can't believe this, I don't believe you, it's not Richard'. When the baby saw her crying, he started to cry.

"They would have been married four years this August and Blake will be one on Thursday but he's at an age now where he'll never get to know his father. It is tragic."

Mr Nattrass said he first met Solihull-born Mr Adams ten years ago.

"He struck me then as a very intelligent man. He was a lateral thinker, very keen and full of ideas and energy. He wanted to set the world alight. He was remarkable to be with because of that."

Witnesses to the crash had described the P-registration Subaru Impreza as doing between 100mph and 120mph when it crashed.

"What happened to Richard was completely needless," Mr Nattrass said.

Police have appealed for witnesses who saw the Subaru driving from the Alum Rock area about five to ten minutes before the crash, along Heartlands Parkway and through Saltley and Washwood Heath. Anyone with information can call the road policing unit at Nechells Green on 0845 113 5000.