The family of a lorry driver have said they are struggling to "believe it's real" that he died on a motorway crash in bad weather during Storm Malik.
Bogdan Popa, 32, was involved in the two-vehicle crash on the M74 in Lanarkshire at around 7.50am last Saturday, reports the Daily Record.
He had been travelling northbound on the motorway when he smashed onto the other side of the carriageway before colliding with a car coming in the opposite direction.
Emergency services rushed to the crash site but Mr Popa was pronounced dead at the scene.
He leaves behind a "devastated" wife and 12-year-old son.
Originally from Romania, the dad-of-one had been living in Liverpool for the last two years working as a lorry driver.
His niece Monica Tudorie, 19, told the Daily Record: "His wife is really devastated and we're all in shock, we don't believe it's real.
"Everyone is still waiting for him to come back.
"But the most difficult part is his son, he keeps waiting for his dad.
"My auntie is in a really difficult state.
"We never expected this, he's a professional lorry driver who travelled around all Europe.
"He was a really good driver, he never had any problems. Even when this happened, and police explained everything, they said it wasn't at all his fault.
"He had his seatbelt on and he wasn't on his mobile or anything like that, he never would, it was nature - but it was because of the wind."
Monica says her uncle was a family man and doted on his son.
"For us, he was the best person. He was the best carer and loved spending time with his son. They are both so clever and so into their gaming," she said.
"Before finding out what happened to his dad, my little cousin explained to me he was having trouble accessing his dad's GPS on his lorry and was worried.
"When he saw the news, I think he was scared that it was his dad.
"And then police officers came to the house and told us."
Mr Popa's body will now be taken back to Romania for a funeral and a fundraiser has now been set up with the goal of £5,000.
A message on the page reads: "Please help us 29/01/22 Bogdan Popa, a son, husband, father 32 years old because of weather conditions serious accident on a busy Scots Road he smashed into the other side of the carriageway.
"Unfortunately, he did not survive from this accident and he left behind him a wife and his very smart 12 years old son.
"Please with a lot of regards try and help Popa family for his raising fund to be send back home Romania as he needs to be close to his family. Thank you so much for your kindness."
