British man Brandon Grimes, 26, killed in Florida hit-and-run — family fights to bring body home

Brandon Grimes died after being struck by a car on a Florida highway on 25 September. His family has raised over £11,000 to repatriate his body to Seaham.

Family of Seaham man killed in Florida hit-and-run appeals for help with repatriation

The family of Brandon Grimes, a 26-year-old British man killed in a suspected hit-and-run in Florida, have launched a public fundraiser to bring his body back to the UK, The Independent reports.

Grimes died on 25 September after being struck by a car on the Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway — also identified in US media reports as West US Highway 192. The driver fled the scene and remains at large. Police have since seized a silver 2007–2010 Ford Edge with a black top as part of their investigation.

His family described him as "a gentle, bright, funny, and wonderful soul who brought so much light, love, and joy to everyone who knew him." In a message posted on GoFundMe, they said his death had "shattered" their lives. "Our family is completely devastated, and the pain of losing him this way is something no family should ever have to bear," they wrote.

The fundraiser aims to cover repatriation and funeral costs so that Grimes can be returned to his hometown of Seaham, County Durham. "Our focus right now is entirely on bringing our boy home so we can lay him to rest properly and continue fighting for the justice Brandon deserves," the family said. More than £11,000 has been raised so far.

The family said the driver's continued absence is compounding their grief. "The thought that the person responsible is out there hiding makes the pain even heavier," they wrote, adding that they are simultaneously processing their loss and navigating the legal and logistical challenges of seeking justice across an international border.

His partner, David Jackson, told ChronicleLive that a "lack of communication" from US authorities had left them struggling to piece together the full circumstances of his death. "We are desperate to bring him back, and we are trying to find an international funeral director to help, but the lack of communication we have had from America makes this very difficult," Jackson said.

Jackson also paid tribute to Grimes, describing a life filled with football, family, and plans for the future. "He was a referee for the FA, and he loved football, Liverpool FC and England especially," he said. "We had only been together since February, but we were making a lot of plans, and the future we were talking about won't happen now."

He added that Grimes is survived by a large family — including siblings, nieces, grandparents, his mother and stepfather — all of whom, Jackson said, "have been destroyed by this."

Source: The Independent