Kellys Beach was alight as friends and family gathered to pay tribute to popular Bundaberg teenager Joshua Peter Roth who died in a traffic accident on the corner of Walker and Steffensen streets.

Friends remember the 18-year-old as the playful life of the party, while his parents Lorna and Peter Roth think of their son as the "family clown" they could always rely on to make them laugh. "He just always had stories about everything and anything," Ms Roth said. "He was very open and he was always making everyone laugh."

Ms Roth said their son was happiest when he was with his five-month-old daughter Madison Roth. "When he was with Madison nothing or no one mattered to him," Ms Roth said. "He was not the clown when he was with her he was just a dad."

Since her son''s passing, Ms Roth has been inundated with gifts and cards from friends and well-wishers. Madison''s mother Ashleigh Christian said Mr Roth was a loving father who was always there for his daughter. "He was very fun and exciting, it was never boring, he always knew how to make me smile," Miss Christian said. "He was a great father and he always made sure we were both okay. "If she was crying he would make her laugh."

Miss Christian drove past the accident scene, and had no idea it was her daughter''s father who had been hit. "I even drove past the accident and said ''imagine if that was Josh''," Miss Christian said.

Former Kepnock State High School schoolmate Alysha Wise organised last night''s celebration because she wanted to give Mr Roth a proper send off. Mourners were asked to bring candles and torches to light the sky. Mr Roth''s older sister and younger brother unleashed helium balloons with family messages. "I was sort of just hoping everyone would get together and think about the positive things that came out of Josh''s life," Miss Wise said. Mr Roth is survived by his daughter Madison.