A DEVASTATED family is campaigning for improved road safety after a beloved dad was killed in a horror collision just minutes from home.

As reported by the Star, Tony Sheil died after his van collided with a lorry on the unlit A75 'Euroroute' in Wigtownshire, on Friday, November 24, 2023.

Tony, a dad-of-two from St Helens, had moved up to Scotland with his family in 2022 as he dreamed of retiring there and had plans to renovate the family home before his life was tragically cut short.

As Tony's family was unable to say goodbye to the man who "would drop anything he was doing to help others", they have now launched an online petition in his memory, to try and improve road safety on the A75 and across the UK.

READ > Drilling work set to begin as part of preparations for town centre regeneration

St Helens Star: Tony and the family had moved up to Scotland to fulfil is retirement dreamTony and the family had moved up to Scotland to fulfil is retirement dream (Image: Michaela Yates)
The site of the collision in southwest Scotland is a common route for heavy goods vehicles to the Stranraer ferry port, but has also become a hotspot for serious collisions over the years.

After the tragedy of Tony's collision, his family wants to see lights, speed cameras, and cats eyes, as well as improved road markings, surfaces and signage on the A75 and similar unlit roads across the UK.

The family says they are hoping that they can raise enough awareness for politicians and transport bosses to take action, which could prevent other families from going through the pain that they have experienced.

The family is also raising money for a memorial stone and bench so that they can install a lasting memory for the beloved dad-of-two, while the online petition has already had more than 500 signatures.

St Helens Star: Michaela and Tony got engaged when they were 18Michaela and Tony got engaged when they were 18 (Image: Michaela Yates)
Tony's partner Michaela, who he had been engaged to since they were 18, said: "It has been awful, I can’t even say in words how it has been, there is nothing to describe it.

"I will never see Tony build his dream house now [as] it's not finished and he was in the middle of doing it up. All the material for the house is just sitting here.

"The family isn’t the same, the house is quiet. It was meant to be our dream move to be honest but things didn’t work out as planned.

"Life is tougher without him and there is always gonna be a huge hole in our lives which is never going to get replaced or fixed."

You can add your name to the family's petition to improve road safety on the A75 here.