Tributes flood in for tragic Gary,58
Twin sister stunned by brother’s truck death
Tributes have been paid to a council roads worker who died after being hit by a truck in East Kilbride.
Gary Anderson, 58, was struck by a vehicle also involved in resurfacing work on a stretch of Calderwood Road on Saturday.
Twin sister Susan told the News: “We are all absolutely heartbroken.”
South Lanarkshire Council yesterday described Gary as a “popular, truly valued colleague”.
An investigation to establish the circumstances of the incident has been launched by Police Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.
Heartbroken family, friends and colleagues have paid tribute to an East Kilbride council worker killed while carrying out road repairs.
Gary Anderson died on Saturday afternoon when he was hit by a truck also working on repairing a stretch of Calderwood Road which had been closed to traffic.
Emergency services, including an air ambulance, raced to Gary’s aid but the 58-year-old passed away as a result of his injuries.
Nobody else was hurt in the accident.
An investigation has now been launched by Police Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) alongside South Lanarkshire Council.
A fatal accident inquiry is expected to be held.
Tributes have poured in for popular husband, dad and grandad Gary, from Calderwood, who also leaves behind his devastated twin sister Susan, brothers Martyn and Leigh and mum Sheila.
Speaking on behalf of her family, twin Susan told the News: “We are all absolutely heartbroken.
“I don’t think it has actually sunk in – we are still in shock.
“Gary will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.
“My brother was a great guy with a fantastic personality.
“He was always laughing and joking and he lived for and doted on his family.
“Gary was a real character and was genuinely such a funloving guy.
“All the guys he worked with must be absolutely devastated, too, and it’s bound to be hard for them given what happened. “It’s just so hard to take in.” Susan added: “He loved going away on holidays abroad with his family, visiting our mum in Blackpool where she lives and tending to his garden.”
Other family and friends have taken to social media to pay tribute to Gary.
Nephew Dean Bennet said: “We will miss you uncle Gary. Thoughts with all family at this sad and heartbreaking time. He was a wicked uncle and I will always keep the laughs we had in my heart. Sleep tight.”
And Katherine Alexander wrote: “So sad. Gary was my neighbour when we were kids. Thoughts are with his family.”
Andrew Allan said: “So sorry to hear of the tragic news of Gary. Met him on numerous occasions tipping tar for him and the team. Thoughts are with all the team at South Lanarkshire Council as well as family and friends.”
In a statement released yesterday, the council’s executive director of community and enterprise resources, Michael McGlynn, paid tribute to Gary.
He said: “Gary was a truly valued colleague who had worked with the council for 37 years. He was popular and had many friends, not just among his immediate workmates in the roads team of which he was a chargehand, but across the council as a whole.
“His tragic death has profoundly saddened all of us and Gary’s workmates have been particularly shaken.
“We are offering them every support we can.
“More than anything else, our thoughts are with Gary’s wife Linda and the rest of his family who are understandably devastated. We will support them in any way we can.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Around 4.30pm on Saturday, July 8, while working on the resurfacing of Calderwood Road, a male road worker was struck by a truck that was also involved in road repairs.
“He died at the scene and no one else was injured.
“The Health and Safety Executive and South Lanarkshire roads department have been informed.
“A full investigation into the circumstances of the incident is now underway.
“A full report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.”
An HSE spokesperson said: “HSE is aware of the incident and working with Police Scotland who have primacy and the crown office and procurator fiscal service.”
My brother Gary was a great guy with a fantastic personality. He lived for and doted on his family Twin sister Susan