Fundraiser launched after Renfrewshire dad-of-five dies in car crash

A fundraiser has been launched on behalf of five children whose father died in a car crash in Renfrewshire.

Emergency services were called to Beith Road, in Johnstone, at around 2am on Saturday, after a car crashed and subsequently caught fire.

A 53-year-old man was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

He has since been named locally as Gary Sim, a father-of-five from Renfrewshire.

Tributes were left at the scene of the crash. Supplied

Tributes have been shared online to the 53-year-old, including from his children, following his death.

His son, Gary, said: “I love you dad, you were my best friend. I need you back”, while his daughter, Chandler, said: “I love you dad, I can’t believe this.”

A family friend, Danielle, has launched a GoFundMe to raise money for the family to help with funeral costs.

She wrote: “Hey everyone, 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, as well 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.”

She added: “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.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “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.”