Boy, 8, dies after Aberdeen crash with crane

TRIBUTES were paid today to an eight year-old schoolboy who died after his bike collided with a mobile crane in Aberdeen.

Kyle Allan who died after a collision with a mobile crane. Picture: Newsline Scotland

The boy who died in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, following the tragic accident on the city’s Great Northern Road, has been named by police as Kyle Allan.

Allan’s parents today paid tribute to their “ray of sunshine.”

His mother Kelly, 36, and father Jamie, 40, have three other children, Kyle’s twin sister Morgan and younger brothers Ryan, 7, and Jack, aged 2.

In a statement released through Police Scotland they described their son as “always smiling.”

And their statement continued: “He was a much loved son, grandson, nephew, brother, cousin and friend to many. He will be greatly missed and was known to us all as a ‘ray of sunshine’.

“We would like to thank everyone who assisted at the scene including medical and emergency services staff and members of the public. Our thoughts are also with the driver at this time.

“We would now ask that our privacy is respected and that the media to allow us time to grieve on our own.”

The accident happened shortly after 7.30pm on Tuesday night on Great Northern Road, near the notorious Haudagain roundabout, one of the city’s worst traffic bottlenecks.

The road was closed for several hours while officers from the Aberdeen Division of Police Scotland carried out a detailed examination of the crash scene.

His grandparents were amongst those who flooded various social networking sites, posting tributes to the schoolboy.

Kyle’s grandmother Carol Kinnaird posted: “My heart is broken into a million pieces. One of my beautiful grandsons Kyle Allan was taken from us.”

His grandfather James Kinnaird wrote: “To my Grandson Kyle who was killed today RIP luv u lots from Granda.”

It is understood that Police Scotland are investigating the possibility that Kyle collided with the large mobile crane when he went on to the road from a steep path that runs from Clifton Road down to Great Northern Road. A Police spokesman said: “A full investigation is currently under way and inquiries are still at an early stage.”

Local councillor Lesley Dunbar said: “This is tragic, and not just for the lad’s family but for the wider community. My thoughts at this moment go out to his family and friends. He will be a pupil at one of the local schools and his classmates will be affected.”

Kyle was a pupil at Manor Park School in Aberdeen. Paul Rooke, the school’s head teacher, said: “Kyle was an absolutely delightful young lad who was incredibly popular amongst children, staff and in the community. Kyle’s positive and fun loving nature was a blessing to have around Manor Park School.

“I speak for all when I say that he will be terribly sadly missed.

“All of our thoughts and prayers are with Kyle’s parents, Kelly and Jamie, his siblings, Morgan, Ryan and Jack, and the wider family.”

Inspector Ian Kirkwood, of the Aberdeen roads policing department of Police Scotland, said it was still to early to comment on the cause of the tragic accident which claimed the life of the schoolboy.

But he said the tragedy should act as a reminder to parents to ensure the safety of their children on the city’s roads.

He said: “It would be inappropriate at this time to give a cause for the collision because its is still under investigation. However, with the onset of the light nights, this would be a good time for parents to sit down with their kids and satisfy themselves that if they re going out on bikes that they are competent and capable to ride the bike - do they have a cycle helmet and is the cycle in a roadworthy condition? Taking simple steps might prevent tragedies.”

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision is asked to call Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.