THE victim of a road smash in Scotland was killed as he travelled home to Batley after getting engaged to “the love of his life”.
Mark Hoare, 22 did not have a chance to tell his family the good news before he died on the A75 Gretna to Stranraer road on Monday.
His parents, Dave and Sue Hoare, revealed last night they only found out about the proposal after his death in a three-car crash.
The couple have paid tribute to their son, a commercial vehicle mechanic who lived at Bromley Street, saying no-one had a bad word to say about him.
In a statement they said: “After leaving school with 11 GCSEs he joined UPS as an apprentice at their Shaw Cross depot in Dewsbury.
“His free time was spent with friends and family, he enjoyed sea fishing, cars and video gaming.
“He recently met the love of his life at a chance meeting while visiting his cousin in Stranraer.
“Unbeknown to us, he proposed to her and she accepted.
“The official announcement was to be made at her 21st birthday this coming weekend.
“Mark was about as happy as was possible to be on his tragic return journey home to us.”
The incident happened near Springholm village, between Dumfries and Castle Douglas, at about 4pm.
Four people from Wigtownshire, who were travelling in a Vauxhall Vectra, suffered minor injuries.
The driver of the third car, a Vauxhall was unhurt.
Mr and Mrs Hoare added: “We know of no one who has a bad thing to say about Mark, and anyone whose life he touched was the richer for it and knew they had met a man they would be able to trust and rely on with their most precious things.
“He has left a massive hole in our family and his loss has broken the hearts of all of us.”
