'He was a friend to everybody’ - Daughter pays tribute to loving dad of 12 killed in Salford crash

A 51-year-old man who tragically died after a crash in Salford has been named as Barry Dillon.

Emergency services descended outside the Asda supermarket on Great Cheetham Street East at around 2.20am in the morning last Friday (June 7) following reports of a collision.

Barry, from Weaste in Salford, known as Baz, to his family and friends sadly died following the crash.

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A man - aged in his 40s - was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has since been released under investigation.

No further details on the vehicle or vehicles involved in the crash have been released. Police are urging any witnesses, or anyone with dash cam footage, to get in touch with them.

Today, Barry’s daughter Jessica Saunders paid a heartbreaking tribute to her dad who leaves 12 children and eight grandchildren.

Remembering her dad Jessica, 25, from Salford, told the Manchester Evening News: “He was a big kid at heart and really did love all of his children and his grandchildren. He loved his family. That’s all he ever wanted in life and he got that and so did my mum.”

Jessica said her parents first met aged 14 and went on to have 12 children together.

Describing how Barry was as a dad, she said: “He was quite a hands-on-dad and a very bubbly character. He had a very good sense of humour. He loved having a big family. He absolutely loved it.

“I asked my mum what my dad had left behind and he said he’s left you all behind, you're his legacy. He’s left a big family and we are whatever is left of my dad.

“It’s comforting that there’s so many of us and we can help each other get through it. We’re a very close family.”

Reflecting on her childhood, Jessica said: “We all grew up in the same household. Christmas, Bonfire Night and Halloween were the most special times because there were so many of us. My mum and dad used to go above and beyond.

“My dad was like a big kid at heart. On Bonfire Night he would always be the one to get us outside and show us boxes of fireworks, on Halloween he’d decorate the house and then on Christmas he’s be shouting for us to come downstairs and open our presents from the moment he woke up.”

Jessica said her dad was ‘besotted’ by his grandchildren, including her two little boys, Bobby, 6, and Tommy, 3.

“He absolutely adored my oldest Bobby. He adored them both but when I first had Bobby he literally adored him, he always said he looked like the spitting image of him. He was absolutely besotted with his grandchildren.

“He’d always come round and check on me and the boys and I think that’s what I’ll miss the most.

“He just used to turn up out of the blue and knock on. I’d be in the kitchen making dinner and he’d just come up and say ‘hiya, you okay? How are the kids?’ It would be like he never left when he came round.”

Jessica said her dad got her brothers into boxing when they were growing up and was looking forward to taking his grandsons to the gym.

“My two boys are very boisterous and I think he liked the fact that they were just like my brothers. He was only here a few weeks ago saying he wants to start taking them to the gym and to boxing and do hobbies with them at the weekend.

“The fact that he never got to do that, it’s a bit horrible.”

Jessica said her dad Baz was well known and loved in the local community.

“He was very well known and liked in the community. He was a proper Salfordian; everybody knew him. He was just so funny and a friend to everybody.

“He was always helpful and welcoming to new people. They don’t make them like my dad anymore. He was so loyal. It’s going to be hard without him.”

On her dad’s sudden passing, Jessica said: “It’s just a bit surreal that he’s gone.

“I’m absolutely distraught and just devastated. His death came so unexpectedly and has been a massive shock. I feel like there’s a massive hole he’s left in my heart.

“It’s sad that we’re never going to see him again. It’s hard to come to terms with.”

On Sunday (June 9) Jessica organised a vigil and balloon release where her dad passed away to give his close family and friends a chance to say goodbye to him.

“I just held a little bit of a vigil and memorial for close family and friends. We all wrote messages on balloons and let them off into the sky. I found a bit of comfort in that and took my sons with me so they could say goodbye to their grandad. We left a tribute for him there.”

GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision or have any dash cam footage to contact them on 0161 856 4741, quoting log number 223 of 07/06/2024.

Information can also be shared using the LiveChat function on the GMPwebsite: www.gmp.police.uk

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to the independent charity - Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.