Tributes paid and fundraiser launched for West Lothian crash victim Raffaele Bramante
Raffaele Bramante's 18-year-old daughter has taken on responsibility for arranging her father's funeral
A fundraising campaign has been launched to support the teenage daughter of a man who died after being struck by a vehicle in West Lothian.
Raffaele Bramante, 48, was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision in Linlithgow shortly after midnight on Sunday August 30.
Police Scotland confirmed a 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and enquiries remain ongoing.
Following Mr Bramante's death, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover funeral and cremation costs, with a target of £5,000.
The fundraising page explains that his 18-year-old daughter is now his next of kin and has taken on the responsibility of arranging her father's funeral while grieving his loss.
Because the majority of Mr Bramante’s relatives live in Italy and do not speak English, the teenager is also supporting them through the process and managing communications on their behalf.
With the funeral service scheduled to take place in a few weeks, donations of any size are being welcomed by the family. Organisers have also asked that anyone unable to contribute financially can instead help by sharing the appeal across social media platforms.
The GoFundMe appeal concluded with a heartfelt message, stating: “He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.”
Meanwhile, the Linlithgow community has been expressing its widespread shock and sadness, with tributes being led by the local restaurant where Mr Bramante worked.
In a lengthy statement published on Facebook, management and staff at Bar Leo described him as a “part of our family” and stated that his “absence will be felt everyday”.
The restaurant's team praised him for sharing his “time, hard work and kindness” over the years, noting that he had left his colleagues with countless memories that they will never forget.
Staff stated that there were no words that could truly express the profound pain of losing someone so suddenly, and extended their deepest condolences to Mr Bramante's family and loved ones.
The tribute added: “We hope those closest to him can find strength and comfort during this incredibly difficult time.”
Colleagues specifically thanked Mr Bramante for the laughter and joy he routinely brought into the workplace, confirming that he will always hold a special place in their hearts and that his memory will remain with them forever.
Customers of Bar Leo have also taken to the comments section of the post to send their love and share their own personal memories of the 48-year-old.
Shaz Finlayson, a regular patron of the restaurant, wrote: “The memory of Raffaele's warm smile and laughing eyes gazing out cheerily from the Bar Leo kitchen will stay with us customers forever.
“We are grateful to Raffaele for the part he played in making our visits to the restaurant special and we won't forget him.”
Another customer echoed those sentiments, adding: “So very sad. He was a lovely guy. Thinking of you all and his family.”