VICTIM OF MERCY DASH ACCIDENT
Victim of mercy dash accident
HE was, many have said, the 29th fatality of the Omagh bombing.
Happy-go-lucky father of two Gary White was buried on Wednesday, the victim of a tragic accident.
His car collided with an ambulance ferrying the injured between hospitals.
Said his softly spoken widow Elaine: "It was such a sad twist of fate.
"If that bomb had not happened, then that ambulance would not have come down the road and Gary would still be with us."
Flicking through the enormous pile of family snaps, many taken on holiday, the broad smile on the face of Gary says it all.
"Gary knew everybody and everybody knew Gary. Wherever he went, even on holiday, he always met somebody he knew," said Elaine.
Gary, who worked for Belfast City Council, had just turned on to the Knock Road from the Kings Road when the collision happened on Sunday morning. It was a terrific crash and the car ended up smashing into a wall which toppled over.
A passenger in the car, Gary's brother-in-law, escaped death but remains ill in hospital.
The previous evening, as the dreadful images from Omagh were being broadcast to their living room, the couple cried and cried for those who had lost loved ones.
Less than 12 hours later, Gary was dead, the result of a tragic train of events that began with the Saturday afternoon atrocity.
"It was just terrible that the bomb led to his death, "There's no way I would blame him at all, it was just pure bad luck."
Hundreds turned out for the funeral of Gary, buried at Roselawn Cemetery on Wednesday as other services were taking place on the other side of Ulster.
Said Elaine, who was married for 18 years and has a son Gareth, 16, and daughter Lauren, 12: "I was numb watching the reports of the other funerals on television.
"But while I cried at times, they also gave me strength."
HE was, many have said, the 29th fatality of the Omagh bombing.
Happy-go-lucky father of two Gary White was buried on Wednesday, the victim of a tragic accident.
His car collided with an ambulance ferrying the injured between hospitals.
Said his softly spoken widow Elaine: "It was such a sad twist of fate.
"If that bomb had not happened, then that ambulance would not have come down the road and Gary would still be with us."
Flicking through the enormous pile of family snaps, many taken on holiday, the broad smile on the face of Gary says it all.
"Gary knew everybody and everybody knew Gary. Wherever he went, even on holiday, he always met somebody he knew," said Elaine.
Gary, who worked for Belfast City Council, had just turned on to the Knock Road from the Kings Road when the collision happened on Sunday morning. It was a terrific crash and the car ended up smashing into a wall which toppled over.
A passenger in the car, Gary's brother-in-law, escaped death but remains ill in hospital.
The previous evening, as the dreadful images from Omagh were being broadcast to their living room, the couple cried and cried for those who had lost loved ones.
Less than 12 hours later, Gary was dead, the result of a tragic train of events that began with the Saturday afternoon atrocity.
"It was just terrible that the bomb led to his death, "There's no way I would blame him at all, it was just pure bad luck."
Hundreds turned out for the funeral of Gary, buried at Roselawn Cemetery on Wednesday as other services were taking place on the other side of Ulster.
Said Elaine, who was married for 18 years and has a son Gareth, 16, and daughter Lauren, 12: "I was numb watching the reports of the other funerals on television.
"But while I cried at times, they also gave me strength."
Further Information
Publisher: SUNDAY LIFE
Ref: SL/029
Published Date: 23-Aug-98
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