Fundraiser launched for much-loved Renfrewshire dad who died in a car crash

A fundraiser has been launched to help with the funeral costs of a man “with the biggest heart” who died in a Renfrewshire car crash.

Emergency services raced to Beith Road in Johnstone around 2am on Saturday following reports of a car hitting a wall.

The vehicle caught fire and was extinguished by members of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

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A 53-year-old man, named locally as Gary Sim, was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow by the Scottish Ambulance Service but was later pronounced dead.

Now, a gofundme page has been set up by a family friend to help with funeral costs.

On the online fundraiser, Danielle Mcclorey posted: “I’m setting up this Go Fund Me Page due to the heartbreak of our closest friends losing their dad. We are trying to offer help with funeral costs etc at this difficult time.

“On early hours of Saturday morning ‘OOR GARY SIM’ sadly passed away, he was a loving dad to Chelsea, Caitlin, wee Gary, Chandler and Chloe, aswell as a papa, brother, partner and step dad.

“Gary was the nicest person with the biggest heart, he would have done anything for anyone and I mean that from the bottom of my own heart, he was always helping people by doing his ‘wee jobs’ as he would say.

“Saying that I would like to ask the community to please pull together in the memory of Gary and to help the family, any amount big or small will help to take a small amount of pressure off at this terrible time for the family and it would be greatly appreciated.”

Beith Road and Linn Brae in Johnstone were closed for around five hours following the incident as investigations took place to establish exactly what happened.

Since then, flowers and Rangers tops have been placed at the crash site and tributes have been posted on social media by loved ones.

Heartfelt tributes were posted online by Gary’s family, with one loved one writing: “I’ll miss you dad. Couldn’t have asked for a better person in my life.”

While another posted: “My dad forever going to miss you.”

Gary was referred to as a “gentleman” in other tributes while a friend posted: “Thoughts go out to all Gary’s family, siblings and kids. He was such a nice guy. Rest easy, you will be forever missed.”

The police investigation remains ongoing at this time.

A Police Scotland spokesperson told the Paisley Daily Express: “Around 2am on Saturday, November 9, officers attended at a one-car crash on Beith Road in Johnstone.

“The Scottish Ambulance Service also attended and a 53-year-old man was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow where he was pronounced dead.

“The car caught fire and it was put out by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The road was closed and re-opened around 7.50am. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”

The online fundraiser has raised over £700 so far and can be visited at www.gofundme.com/f/gary-sim

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