A WELL-known community member and philanthropist was killed in a car crash on the M23 on Sunday.

Family friends confirmed 80-year-old Ron Carey from Canada died when the vintage car he was driving in collided with a truck along the busy M23 highway.

They say Carey’s wife, Billi, was airlifted to hospital.

The crash happened near a vintage car rally between London and Brighton. The accident location was on a roadway not included on the rally route.

Friends are paying tribute to Carey, a prominent member of multiple vintage car clubs and business circles around Calgary.

“It’s very tragic, gut-wrenching news,” friend Rick Pikulski said. “I’ve known Ron for almost 40 years and he was very well-respected and well-liked.”

“He’s a tremendous loss.”

Horrified eyewitnesses told how car enthusiast Ron was thrown "into the air like a ragdoll" after his 1903 Knox Porcupine was struck.

He is thought to have taken a wrong turn onto the busy motorway.

Ron - who owns a £3.8million classic car collection - was pronounced dead at the scene.

The pair were taking part in the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run after flying out from their home in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

They are thought to have completed the race without incident in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Horrified eyewitnesses told how the horror crash sent them flying through the air "like ragdolls".

Jocelyn Gregory told the Daily Telegraph: "When the lorry hit, they flew up into the air like ragdolls. It was awful.

"There were not clear enough signs at the junction. If you are not familiar with the area, then it is an easy mistake to make. It was not organised properly.

"It is a huge junction. There should have been stewards."

The tragedy happened close to Junction 7 on the southbound carriageway shortly after 10am.

Another friend, who asked not to be named, said Carey died doing what he loved: driving.

Pikulski echoed the sentiment: “He was very well-travelled and would go on these vintage car rallies all the time.

"This was something he very much enjoyed.”