The family of a 73-year-old grandfather who was killed after his car ploughed into a tree on Saturday morning have paid tribute to him.

Lloyd Grimes, from Pembroke, had to be cut free from his vehicle by firefighters after it overturned on Roberts Avenue near the junction with Stadium Heights.

He was rushed by ambulance to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in an unresponsive state and was pronounced dead at 8 a.m.

His granddaughter Lalisha Simmons, 23, told last night: ?He was the best granddad, if you ask me. Family came first to him and he was a guy that liked to work.

?He was always there and he was always cracking jokes. He always had a story. When he was around it was a nice laugh.?

She said her grandfather had been out doing his regular Saturday morning shop and was not far from his home on Friswells Hill when the accident happened.

Mr. Grimes? daughter, Marcia Burns, said the family was ?holding up? but was still in shock.

?We just heard that he had an accident and that was about 7.30 in the morning,? she said. ?We all went to the hospital.?

She said her father passed away before relatives got there. It was still unclear last night whether he died as a result of the crash or from a pre-existing medical condition.

Mrs. Burns said: ?We don?t know the cause of death. They are going to have an autopsy.?

She added: ?He was a very good father, a grandfather and a great-grandfather.?

Mr. Grimes also leaves behind his wife Marion, 71, to whom he had been married for more than 45 years, another daughter, Alicia Simmons, plus four other grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A qualified mason, he was born in Hamilton Parish and attended Temperance Hall School in Bailey?s Bay.

His daughter said he was brought up in the Pentecostal Church at Flatts, was employed for many years by Adderley Brothers Construction and still did a lot of work for Christ Church, Devonshire, as a sexton. He was recently interviewed on VSB television news about his work with the church.

Mrs. Burns said: ?He was very particular. He dressed well. He liked things in order. When he did a job for you, you knew it was done properly.

? That?s why a lot of people relied on him.?

Mr. Grimes? funeral will take place next Sunday at Christ Church, Devonshire.

A Police spokesman said that the senior appeared to lose control of his vehicle as he travelled north along Roberts Avenue, causing his car to strike a sidewalk before colliding with a palm tree and overturning.

?The car was extensively damaged as a result,? he said. ?Inquiries into this incident are under way.?

He appealed for witnesses to the accident to call P.c. Francilla Henry on 299-4265 or Police headquarters on 295-0011.