'Heartbroken' brother of father-of-two who was run over and killed with son, 15, and daughter, 12, by 'drink driver' on Father's Day pays tribute as well-wishers raise £28,000 for his widow
- Three pedestrians die in Cumbria after a car ploughs into them at yesterday
- Man arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and death by dangerous driving
- Peugeot driver was a local man and only one vehicle was involved in collision
- JustGiving page aiming to raise £1,000 for widow has now raised £28,000
The 'heartbroken' brother of a father-of-two who was run over and killed along with his teenage daughter and 12-year-old son has today paid tribute to him, as a fundraising page set up to help his widow nears £30,000.
Joshua James Flynn, 37, his son Coby-Jay Flynn, 15, and daughter Skylar Flynn, 12, were struck and killed as they enjoyed a 'Father's Day walk' in Dalton, Cumbria. The family's beloved dog, Troy, also died.
A 47-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
Today Mr Flynn's brother, Matthew, paid an emotional tribute on Facebook, accompanied with a picture of the two of them together as children.
He said: 'This is how I will always remember you Josh.
The brother of Joshua Flynn, the man who died along with his son and daughter after being struck by a car in Cumbria on Sunday, has paid tribute to him today
Matthew Flynn (pictured) paid an emotional tribute on Facebook, accompanied with a picture of the two together as children
It comes after Cumbria Police yesterday confirmed that the three pedestrians who died following a collision on Abbey Road, Dalton have been identified as Joshua James Flynn, 37, his son Coby-Jay Flynn, 15, and daughter Skylar Flynn, 12
'We didn’t always see eye to eye and had our ups and downs, but what brothers don’t.
'Right now my heart is broken with such an intense and overwhelming pain.
'I can’t stop thinking about you and poor Coby and Skylar. Love you all Josh. And my thoughts will always be with (his wife) Emma.'
Following the tragic news of their deaths, a fundraising page was launched to support Mr Flynn's widow, named on the JustGiving page as Emma Flynn.
The page had initially aimed to raise just £1,000. But as of this morning it has raised more than £28,000.
Nicola Barnes, who knows friends of the Flynn family, described their deaths as 'devastating' and praised the community for rallying round the family.
Following the tragic news of their deaths, a fundraising page was launched to support Mr Flynn's widow, named on the JustGiving page as Emma Flynn
The page had initially aimed to raise just £1,000. But as of this morning it has raised more than £28,000
In a post on Facebook, she said: 'It's all thanks to the whole community, and was set up on behalf of her close friends.
'I can take care of the page and her friends can more importantly be there for support.
'It really is the most unbelievably tragic and devastating circumstances that no one should ever have to go through.
'My heart really does go out to everyone involved.'
In setting up the JustGiving page, she had earlier said: 'Everyone knows that we look after our own in Barrow, so I'm calling on the whole community to step up and let her know that we'll be with her every step of the way.
'None of us can truly comprehend what she's going through right now, which is why it's so important that we make sure she can grieve in peace without having to stress about paying for funerals or counselling.
'Nothing will make this horrendous situation more bearable for Emma, but if there's anything we can do to help, we've got a duty to at least try.'
Another commenting on the post, who donated to the JustGiving page added: 'I do not know this family, but being a mother, a wife and having had a dog the idea of all of these being taken from me at one time is heart breaking.
'I have taken flowers to the scene and donated to the fund, but nothing can make the wife, mother and dog owner feel any better.'
Others described the news as 'heartbreaking', while some praised the 'amazing support from the community'.
It comes as police yesterday confirmed the driver who had been arrested was a local man and only one vehicle, a Peugeot, was involved in the collision with the pedestrians at about 2.30pm on Sunday.
Paramedics and police at the scene of the crash yesterday in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria
People left floral tributes to the family who died while they were out walking with their dog
The driver suffered non-serious injuries. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene, with all three believed to be related.
The family are believed to have been out for a Father's Day walk with their dog, which also died, when they were hit by the vehicle.
The Flynn family home is an eight minute drive from the scene of the tragedy.
A neighbour said:'We have just found out what has happened and my daughter is in bits.'
Another said:'They were a nice, quiet family, who kept themselves to themselves really.
'I don't know how that poor woman is going to cope. It is just too horrible to imagine.'
Witness Ian Singleton, who saw paramedics trying to save the victims, said on Facebook: 'I was literally five to ten minutes from being involved on my bike.
'Turned up at the scene and it was like a horror movie and I'm still shook up at what I saw. My thoughts go out to the family involved.'
Several bouquets and notes were left to the family who were mowed down and killed by a suspected drink driver as they walked together on Father's Day
One bunch of flowers left at the scene had a heartfelt message written from one of Skylar's friends
Emergency services attended the crash involving the Peugeot and the family who were on foot
One woman, who lived near the crash scene, said: 'There's an intense sadness. It's horrific and it just feels heavy. We're in disbelief.
'Whenever something like that happened would be awful but I think the fact it was Father's Day just multiplied everything.'
Her partner, who did not want to be named, said: 'After I noticed the police I went to the top of the drive and looked down.
'I didn't see the driver of the car but the door to the car was open and it had hit a tree.
'There were emergency vehicles everywhere, police and ambulances, and the fire brigade came down later.'
A spokesman for Cumbria Police said: 'The family are currently being supported by our family liaison officers.'
Officers are now urging witnesses to call 101 referencing incident 124 of June 6, 2020, or contact T/PS 2265 Jack Stabler on SCIU@Cumbria.police.uk.
Detectives are especially keen to speak with anybody who may have dashcam footage that captured the moments before and after the collision.
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