The family of a young man from Scotland, who tragically passed away in a car accident in West Lothian, are trying to cope with the devastating loss. The incident left the family in deep shock and despair.
The unfortunate event unfolded on Auldhill Road in Linlithgow, around 8.35pm on April 29. Emergency services arrived swiftly at the scene, but sadly, 20-year-old Gareth Hempseed could not be saved and was announced dead on the spot. The driver of the car was transported to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and was discharged later.
Judith Paterson, Gareth’s beloved grandmother, has initiated a fundraiser to manage the expenses of his funeral. She aims to accord him a dignified farewell in line with his merits. Judith expressed her feelings on the fundraising page, mentioning the tragic loss of her grandson who died at such a young age.
She wrote, “Our family is devastated and still in shock. I have created this GoFundMe page on the request of his mother, Suzanne, to raise funds for Gareth’s funeral and memorial, and to give him the farewell he truly deserves. Any contribution is greatly appreciated. Once Gareth’s body is released, we will set a funeral date.”
Gareth Hempseed’s uncle, Brian Shanks, also shared his thoughts, “It’s hard to find words. Gareth was different things to different people – a brother, uncle, friend, and for me, he was my nephew. Although I didn’t get to spend as much time with him as I would have liked, he is my family. The news has left us, including his auntie Jen, devastated.”
The fundraiser was launched on Wednesday, and by Thursday morning, there were 19 donations, totalling almost £900. Gareth’s untimely passing has left friends and family mourning, with flowing tributes pouring from those who knew him, remembering him as a “gent”.
Words of tribute have come in from many, including Toby Cook, Ben Loughton, Joshua Spinks, Ashleigh Sharp, and Tiegan Kinloch, all expressing their sorrow and sharing precious memories of Gareth.
The police are encouraging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward. Sergeant Fraser Mitchell of the Road Policing stated, “Our ongoing investigations aim to gather full knowledge surrounding this incident. Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased.”
He added, “We request anyone who was in the vicinity during the time of the collision, especially those with dash-cam footage, to get in touch with any information that can support our investigation. Anyone with potentially relevant information can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3583 of 29 April.”
Individuals wishing to make a contribution to Judith’s fundraiser to cover the costs of Gareth’s funeral can do so here.
Residents of Glasgow have been deeply moved by this tragic incident and have shown incredible solidarity in supporting the bereaved family during such trying times. It’s a test no family should ever face, especially when it involves a young life cut short so dramatically.
The residents of Glasgow await further updates about this tragic incident as more details emerge from the ongoing investigation. This deeply unfortunate incident has brought the community closer together, underlining the value of life and reaffirming the need for responsible driving.
