Family pay tribute to teen killed in hit-and-run as thousands raised

Friends of an 18-year-old killed in a hit-and-run have raised over £6000 for his grieving family, who paid tribute to the “treasured, well-loved and respected” young man.

Aidan Pilkington was fatally struck down by a car on Crow Road in Glasgow in the early hours of Saturday, just days before he was due to move away to Dundee for university.

The light-coloured car, possibly a Mercedes A Class, failed to stop following the incident at around 12.20am and continued driving south.

Mr Pilkington was taken to the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A man, aged 19, has been arrested in connection with the incident and released pending further investigation, said Police Scotland on Sunday.

A tribute from Mr Pilkington’s family released by the force said: “Aidan was treasured by his family, and well-loved and respected by his friends and community.

“Aidan left Hyndland Secondary School in the summer, and was going to be moving to Dundee next Saturday to attend Dundee University.

“He created a bright future for himself and was really looking forward to these opportunities and challenges. It is very cruel that he has been robbed of his life in this way.

“The family would like to thank friends, in particular Aidan’s friends, and the wider community, for their love, support, and kindness.”

Colleagues at the McDonald’s on Crow Road, in Partick, where Mr Pilkington reportedly worked, started the online fundraiser “to support his family and everyone who cared about him”.

“RIP Aidan, we will all miss you and you’ll be forever in our hearts”, said the Gofundme page which had raised over £6271 by 7.30pm on Sunday.

Sergeant Scott Sutherland from Road Policing said: “The car involved has now been traced, and a 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection with this incident. He’s been released pending further investigation.

“We would like to thank everyone who has got in touch with us so far regarding the appeal, and urge anyone who has information, but has yet to contact us, to call 101 quoting incident reference number 0120 of September 11.”

The fundraiser for Mr Pilkington is here: https://uk.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-aidan-pilkington