‘GENTLE GIANT’ WAS LOVED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM
BELOVED SON ONE OF SIX KILLED ON REGION’S ROADS IN ONE WEEK
THE family of a man who died in a crash in Bristol have paid tribute to the ‘gentle giant’ who was loved by all who knew him.
Patrick Hegarty, from Knowle, died when the car he was driving collided with a van on Winterstoke Road at around 7.45am last Wednesday.
Mr Hegarty, 34, was pronounced dead at the scene.
His devastated family have paid tribute to him, saying: “We are deeply saddened to announce the death of our eldest son Patrick Hegarty.
“A gentle giant loved by his family and all who knew him.”
The crash caused widespread disruption to motorists and bus services across the city.
The road remained closed for several hours while police carried out investigation work.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the accident or have dash cam footage to call 101 quoting reference number 5220276192.
Mr Hegarty’s death came during a devastating week on the region’s roads with fatal collisions nearly every day.
Six people lost their lives in as many days in a series of crashes.
On the same day as Mr Hegarty died a male motorist died and a female motorcyclist was seriously injured in a smash on Broadway, Weston-super-Mare.
And a man died in an early morning crash on Winterstoke Road in Bristol.
Teenager Daniel Hill died on Sunday, December 6, after a crash on the A40 near Whittington, in Gloucestershire, on Friday evening.
The 19-year-old from Longborough, Moreton-in-Marsh, was driving a white Mitsubushi Colt when he collided with a wall at around 11pm.
Mr Hill was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol but died from his injuries.
The following day a 63-year-old man died after a single vehicle collision on the M4 at Hambrook, South Gloucestershire.
The crash happened on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 18 and 19 at around 3pm when a black Mercedes C200 left the carriageway and ended up on a grass verge.
The driver of the car, a 63-yearold man from Gwent, was pronounced dead at the scene.
And on December 6, the A46 was closed for more than 12 hours in both directions after a fatal crash involving two pick-up trucks at Dyrham, South Gloucestershire.
The crash happened between junction 18 for the M4 and the A420 turn-off for Cold Ashton at 9pm on Sunday.
One of the vehicles came off the road and the driver, a man in his 50s, died at the scene.
A 23-year old man from Minehead suffered fatal injuries after his car hit a tree in Devon on the B3227, near Blackerton Cross, on Saturday, December 5.
We are deeply saddened to announce the death of our eldest son ... A gentle giant loved by his family and all who knew him Family statement