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A South Australian pilot and father of two was killed after being hit by a car while crossing freeway in californiain USA.
Gary Clark, 56, from Adelaide, lived and worked in Sacramento as a first responder helicopter pilot.
Last week his wife of 30 years, Karen, who was at home in Adelaide, became concerned when she could not reach him by phone or email for several days.
Friend Kylie Payne said after the family contacted Clark’s workplace for answers, they were told he had been killed in a crash on May 4.
Payne said Clark is expected to return home to his family on May 18.
“They’re doing as well as can be expected,” Payne said.
“He was a great father, working to support his family and making sure they had what they needed.
“He was definitely the life of the role. Everyone liked him, Gary was everyone’s friend. He really was a vibrant person,” Payne said.
Local media reported Clark attempted to cross the northbound shoulder of Interstate 5 in Natomas, Sacramento, when he was hit by a 30-year-old driver at 3:30 a.m. He died on the spot.
Clark leaves behind two children in their twenties, with whom he was very close, Payne said.
On behalf of the family, his wife said in a statement that Clark was “larger than life” and left a positive impression on everyone he met.
“He was the most outgoing man I’ve ever met and made friends everywhere he went,” Karen said.
Karen said her husband told his friends “if anything ever happens to him… bring him home and bury him here in the Adelaide Hills”.
Payne started online fundraising to help with the cost of bringing Clark’s body home, which she said would cost about $50,000.
About $32,000 was raised in four days.
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