A MAN wanted by police for failing to stop at the scene of a fatal crash has escaped from hospital.

Police have released pictures of the facially injured man, who goes by the name of Georgios Tsoulos, in an attempt to track him down and question him about the collision.

Ricky Burlton, 20, from Enfield, died in the crash, which happened at 2.30am on Friday, June 4 on the A10 exit sliproad at Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.

Police said the car was being driven by an Albanian from Woodlands Road, Hertford, but they believe the name he gave - Georgios Tsoulos - was false.

He is wanted for failing to stop at the scene.

Inspector Paul Davis said the injuries to the wanted driver were very distinctive.

He said: "He has stitches running from the bridge of his nose above and across his right eyebrow and smaller cuts, which also needed stitches, on his right cheekbone and right side of his nose.

"We are carrying out extensive lines of inquiry but we have taken the unprecedented step of releasing a photo showing his injuries to help in our appeals to trace him."

A white Rover car also involved in the collision has been recovered as part of the investigation.

Mr Burlton's family earlier paid tribute to the "selfless" young man, "who seemed to live to help others".

His mother, Dawn, 42, said: "Ricky was the type of person whose smile would light up a room.

"He had the ability to detect if someone was unhappy or feeling low and through his warmth he was able to cheer them up and change their mood.

"He never asked for anything from anyone and was one of the few people who seemed to live to help others.

"He never saw giving up his time as a problem as he loved being busy.”

His father, Mark, 43, said: “Ricky was an entertainer. He loved seeing people enjoy themselves and would do anything he could to try to get people to laugh.”

Louis, his 17-year-old brother, added: "Ricky was Mr Fix It, the handyman.

"He had a knack of fixing anything that was broken and he would love to take something apart and then be able to rebuild it and see it working again.”

Mr Burlton was born and grew up in Enfield, and wanted to be a motor mechanic from the age of eight.

He went on to become a professional mechanic and hoped to start his own business.

He leaves behind his mother and father, two younger brothers and a younger sister.

His funeral will take place on June 23, 2010.

A procession will walk from the family home at 11.30am for a 12pm service at St Michael and All Angels Church, Gordon Hill, Enfield, followed by a final service at 3pm at Enfield Crematorium.

Anyone who has any information about the incident is asked to call Hertfordshire police on 0845 33 00 222.