Heartfelt tributes have been paid to a 'kind, friendly and selfless' man killed in a horror hit and run with a stolen car on a Scots street.
On December 30 on Aberdeen's Hilton Drive, the 42-year-old driver of a white Dacia Sandero involved in the crash was rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary but sadly could not be saved and died from his injuries.
Cops are hunting two male occupants of a silver Volkswagen Golf who fled the scene on foot following the collision around 6.25pm.
The man who died has been named locally as Gabriel Lungu, who was originally from Romania.
A fundraising page has been launched with the goal of gathering £6,000 for Gabriel's grieving family to return his body to his native country.
At the time of writing it has raised £5,795.
Next of kin Ionut Draghiciu wrote: "On the 30th of December 2021 in Aberdeen, we lost Gabriel through an accident caused by two people who had stolen a car and who fled the scene.
"They didn’t look back and didn’t care what kind of person he was or about the family that were waiting at home for him.
"Gabriel was a one in a million. A kinder, friendlier, or more selfless person, you will ever meet.
"He did everything he could to help those around him and to keep his family happy and healthy. He was the most hard working, caring man you could ever hope to know and his absence is too painful for words."
He added: "We are asking that you donate to help us return him to Sinaia, Romania. This is where he was born and where he had wished to return to.
"The money raised will be put toward the costs of the repatriation, funeral and for his family.
"We thank you for any donations, no matter how small. It will all help."
Speaking at the time Sergeant Steve Manson from the North East Road Policing Unit urged anyone with information to come forward.
He said: “Tragically, this collision has resulted in the death of the male driver of the Sandero and our condolences are with his family at this time.
“A family have been left devastated by this incident and this is compounded by the driver leaving the scene of the incident.
"The vehicle involved had been stolen a short time earlier and we are urgently trying to trace the driver.
"If anyone who has knowledge of the occupants, or who was within the Golf at the time of the collision, then please do the right thing and contact us immediately.
“Similarly, we ask anyone who witnessed the crash or has dash cam footage of the incident or vehicles prior to the collision, to come forward.”
To donate to the fundraising, click here.
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