Family’s heartache as ‘tremendous match’ mother-of-five, 42, and her canine are mowed down and killed by Land Rover driver whereas on their morning run
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It was an ordinary Wednesday morning in October when Amy Gray took her dog Reggie for a run on their usual route.
It was something they did every week – a short break from her busy schedule caring for her five young children and training as a nurse.
But unimaginable tragedy struck when Amy, 42, and her pet were struck down and killed by a Land Rover while crossing the road on the busy A8 in Port Glasgow.
Emergency services rushed to her aid but the mother – whose youngest child turned one in July – died at the scene.
As investigations take place into the cause of the crash on October 29, Amy’s grieving family are left with the agonising thought that just a few seconds could have changed everything.
Her brother-in-law Daniel Hagen, who was very close to Amy, told the Daily Mail: ‘Had she forgotten her phone or her fit bit or anything, that could have made a difference. That’s the hardest part.
‘She was on her morning run. She was very fit, and that was her usual route.
‘I believe it was just a series of unfortunate events. Everything that could have gone wrong that day did. A few seconds either way and Amy would still be with us. It was a proper case of wrong place, wrong time.’
Amy Gray, 42, and her dog Reggie (pictured) died after being hit by a Land Rover on their morning run in October
Amy was survived by her younger sister Emma (left, pictured with their father Ian) and both parents
Amy had two young children with her partner David and a nine-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, while her partner also had two more children
Mr Hagen, who is married to Amy’s younger sister Emma, described his sister-in-law as ‘the best kind of person’ who could ‘make things funny with her laugh’.
‘Amy was the best kind of person. Not just because she’s gone, it really is true,’ he said.
‘Amy was just lovely – everyone loved her, because she was so nice and kind. She really loved everyone; everyone she met she could see something in them that was worth getting to know.’
He added: ‘She was so happy, smiley, funny, and she could make things even funnier than they were meant to be. She could make them funny with her laugh.
‘She’d go over things in her mind and she’d just burst out laughing, and it would have everyone else laughing. Her laugh was so loud and that was funny itself.’
Mr Hagen recalled the morning of the tragic crash, saying he’d gone to the gym in the morning – somewhere Amy often went with him – before heading to work.
He was driving at around 7.30am when he noticed lots of cars travelling towards him, despite being on a quiet street away from the main road.
‘As I was driving to work there were lots of cars coming towards me, and I’m thinking ah, something has happened on the main road,’ he said.
‘I never in my wildest dreams would have thought Amy was the reason for the diversion.’
Amy, who had just started nursing at university, is pictured with one of her young children
Amy and her long-term partner David shared five children between them
Amy, pictured with her family, was described as ‘the best kind of person’ by her brother-in-law
Amy, described as ‘so nice and kind’, is pictured with her daughter
The mother is pictured holding a birthday cake surrounded by children
He then received a call from his wife that something ‘really bad’ had happened, and that he needed to leave work.
‘I’m just standing by the phone waiting and that was when Emma called me, and told me Amy had passed away. I said did I hear that correctly, there must be a mistake or something.’
Mr Hagen explained Amy and her partner David shared five children between them -Bethany, Harrison, Ava, Torin and Lucy. Amy had a nine-year-old daughter from a previous relationship while David had two, and they had two young children – aged two and one – together.
The family have been forced to set up a GoFundMe to help support David and the five children, which has so far raised more than £56,000.
Generous strangers have donated to the fund, having been moved by the tragedy, including what appears to be a £5,000 donation from author Leigh Rivers.
Mr Hagen said Amy just recently started nursing at university, and had just been given her placement the day before.
‘They gave her her first placement on the Isle of Tiree, which is an eight and a half hour journey from her house, so that was her last big drama the day before. She was panicking, saying I can’t go to the Isle of Tiree,’ he said.
‘My wife’s response was to laugh and she was saying it’s not funny, but they sorted it out that night. That was just the kind of drama that made Amy funny. I think that was the last thing Amy and I had spoken about.’
A funeral service to celebrate Amy’s life was held at Greenock Crematorium on Saturday, November 15.
The Daily Mail has contacted Police Scotland for comment.
