An Australian pilot and father of two was killed in a horror collision as he tried to cross a US highway just days before he was due to return home to be reunited with his family.
Gary Clarke, 56, from Adelaide, lived and worked in Sacramento, California, as a first aid pilot before his life was tragically ended on May 4.
His wife of 30 years, Karen, only learned of his death last week when she called his workplace after being unable to contact him by phone or email for several days.
Family friend Kylie Payne said Clarke was scheduled to return to Australia on Saturday.
“They’re coping as well as can be expected,” Ms Payne said 7News.
Gary Clarke (pictured), a 56-year-old man from Adelaide, was living and working in Sacramento, California when he died in a car accident
Mr Clarke’s family (pictured with his wife Karen and their children Lauren and Bailey) only learned of his death last week after contacting his employer
“He was a great father, he worked hard to support his family and made sure they had what they needed.
“He was definitely the life of the party. Everyone liked him, Gary was everyone’s friend. He was a really lively person.’
Local media reported that Clarke was trying to cross the northbound shoulder of Interstate Five in Natomas when he was struck by a 30-year-old driver around 3:30 a.m.
He died on the spot.
Mr Clarke is survived by daughter Lauren and son Bailey, who are both in their 20s.
He had a very close bond with his children.
Clarke’s heartbroken wife issued a statement on behalf of her family, describing her husband as ‘larger than life’.
“He was the most sociable man I had ever met, and he made friends everywhere he went,” she said.
Gary Clarke (pictured) remembered as ‘larger than life’ and ‘an amazing father’
Mrs Clarke said her husband told his friends: ‘If anything ever happens to him… bring him home and bury him here in the Adelaide Hills.’
Mrs. Payne has one online fundraiser to assist Mr Clarke’s grieving family with the costs of repatriating his body, which is estimated to cost $50,000.
“Bringing Gary home has been a difficult and expensive process,” she wrote.
‘I hope we can raise some money to support the family at this time.
‘The cost of returning a loved one is much higher than you think and all costs are paid in advance. Gary had limited insurance, which will take some time.”
More than $33,500 was raised in four days.
Mr Clarke’s funeral is expected to take place sometime next week.