By Oliver Farrimond
A SCOTS businessman suffered double-heartbreak after two deaths within hours of each other, it emerged yesterday.
First skip-hire boss David Gallagher was involved in a fatal road smash when a biker collided with the lorry he was driving.
Then police called at his home later that same day to break the news that his son had been killed in a 4×4 accident.
Friends said Mr Gallagher, from Gilmerton in Edinburgh, was left “shattered” by the news.
One said: “It’s just unbelievable.
“He is a fantastic guy, a real diamond. He would take a bullet for his son if he had to.”
Police are still appealing for witnesses to the first devastating incident on Saturday morning.
Mr Gallagher, who owns BWS Skip hire, was delivering a unit to a property near Lasswade Road in the city when his lorry was in collision with motorcyclist Keith Henderson.
The 49-year-old died from his injuries shortly after being rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
The road was closed and diversions were in place for around four hours while investigations were carried out at the scene.
Police are particularly keen to trace the driver of a blue car – possibly a Citroen – that overtook the skip lorry while it was parked.
They are also looking to talk to a motorcyclist who was on a black or red-coloured motorbike that passed just before the collision.
A police spokesperson said: “We are keen to talk to both drivers.
“We believe they may have vital information that could help us piece together exactly what happened in the moments leading up to the crash.
“We would appeal for anyone with any information to get in touch.”
Meanwhile yesterday family and friends gathered to offer their condolences to the Mr Gallagher and his family after the loss of his son Barry, 26, and to prepare for his funeral.
Fire-fighters were called to Winchburgh Shale Bing at around 7pm on Saturday after he crashed his land-rover into a tree while driving off-road.
Although medics managed to negotiate the rough terrain to reach him, Barry died at the scene.
It was then police had to break news to his devastated dad.
A friend said: “The family are shattered.”
Any witnesses were asked to contact police.
