A family has described the “immeasurable” loss of their “beloved” dad who died in an accident

The family of a man who died in a crash moments after two drivers were seen racing have described the loss as “immeasurable”.

Gary Patterson died and his wife Miriam was seriously injured after being hit by a black VW Sirocco driven by Adam Smith, who also died, in July 2021.

Smith, 35, was racing Daniel Kelly on the A713 near Patna, Ayrshire, before the head-on collision killed the 75-year-old grandfather.

On Wednesday, the High Court in Edinburgh convicted Kelly of dangerous driving.

The trial heard Kelly drove at excessive speed, overtook when it was unsafe to do so and drove “at a high rate of speed” in close proximity to the vehicle.

Gary’s daughter, Catherine, told the court she saw a black car head-on and a silver car in her own lane before she was hit by the former.

Judge Welsh imposed a community restitution order as a “direct alternative” to custody.

He ordered Kelly to complete 250 hours of community service, to be completed within 12 months, and placed him under supervision for 15 months.

Following the sentencing, Mr Smith’s family said: ‘Gary was a loving and devoted husband, dad and dad, as well as a wonderful brother, uncle and friend.

“The loss we have suffered is immeasurable, but the outpouring of love and support from those around us has brought so much comfort – we now kindly ask that our privacy be respected as we strive to move forward.”

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