A 39-year-old man has died and 18 others are in hospital after a coach carrying Rangers FC supporters crashed on the way to a Scottish Premiership match. The accident occurred on Saturday lunchtime at a roundabout on the A76 near Kilmarnock in Ayrshire.
The victim has been named as Ryan Baird, from Sanquhar. His cousin, Louise Evanne Baird, described him as "amazing" and said he would be "sadly missed". His partner, Sarah Hughes, paid tribute, stating he had loved the club. The coach, carrying 36 passengers plus the driver, was transporting the Nith Valley Loyal Rangers supporters to Ibrox for the match against Partick Thistle.
One passenger reported the bus swerved before toppling onto its side on a grass verge. A woman whose mother was on the bus said she escaped through the emergency window. Police Scotland confirmed three of the injured are in a serious condition. The road was closed in both directions as accident investigators began inquiries.
Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson expressed the club's sorrow, saying: "While winning today’s match was of vital importance, everything that happened on the pitch pales into insignificance in light of this awful news." Celtic also issued a statement offering condolences to the supporters affected.
