The parents of a Dundee schoolboy killed while attempting to cross the Kingsway at the weekend have paid tribute to their “lovely” son.
Morgan Academy pupil Ricky Flynn was seriously injured when he was struck by a taxi heading west along Kingsway East at around 1.30am on Saturday.
The 16-year-old was rushed to Ninewells Hospital and placed on a life support machine but died of his injuries that afternoon.
His death signalled a weekend of carnage on the roads, which also claimed the life of 32-year-old Dundee police worker Neil Smith and saw 18-year-old motorcyclist Andrew Murray from Stirlingshire killed while riding in north-east Fife.
Two other people were also injured in one of the blackest weekends on roads in the north-east for some time.
Music fan Ricky’s family father Zab (50), mother Alison (46) and sister Kelsey (20) were struggling to come to terms with the tragedy at their home in Walker’s Mill.
The fifth-year pupil had been out at a party with his sister and other friends on Friday night before leaving to walk to another party at a house on Kingsway East.
Ricky never completed the journey and dozens of floral and other tributes have now been laid at the spot where the accident occurred.
“He was at a party with his sister and friends and his sister’s friends,” said Mr Flynn. “They socialise together and he was playing his guitar about 20 minutes before this happened.
“He loved playing his guitar and singing. He was full of fun and full of life and just loved his music. He was just a really nice boy.
“We are a really close family and are just absolutely devastated. All the tributes (laid on Kingsway East) mean a lot to us as a family.
“His pals were out at the house last night playing his guitar because they basically couldn’t stay away.”‘Really nice’Mr Flynn said his son a football fan who played for both Douglas Lads and Dryburgh Athletic clubs was mature for his age and had hoped to secure a trade in the years to come.
“He could’ve left school this year but he went into fifth year. They were hoping to get him an apprenticeship as he wanted to be an electrician.
“He was a loving brother and he loved his mum and dad and he was just a really nice person.
“He was working last week with his sister at the Dunhill golf tournament at Kingsbarns. He was 16 and she is 20 but it was Ricky that was keeping them right. He wanted to do a good job and do things properly.”
Morgan Academy head teacher Stephen Shaw said Ricky’s death was a tragic loss for all who knew him and the school was providing support for his friends.
He said, “All at Morgan Academy are saddened to hear of the death of Ricky. Ricky was in S5 and was an active and well liked young man who was enjoying being in senior school.
“The thoughts of staff and pupils are with Ricky’s family and close friends at this very sad time. Support is being provided to young people at Morgan Academy today.”
Anyone with information about the accident should call police on 0300 1112222 or speak to any officer.