A WELL-KNOWN Wirral businessman died in Florida after a suspected drink-driver smashed into a mini-van carrying a group of friends.

Wallasey’s Malcolm Allanson, a 59-year-old former electronics engineer and managing director of Royal Extrusions, in Prenton, had invited the friends to stay in his holiday home for a golf trip, when Lamar Elton, 47, ploughed into them as they waited at a red light in Daytona, on Monday, at 9.17pm local time.

Golf fanatic Mr Allanson had bought a holiday home next to a course, having started the commercial glazing firm in 1984, taking the business from his garage in Village Way, Wallasey, to the North Cheshire Trading Estate, where it now employs 24 people and has an annual turnover of £3m.

Front passenger, and landlord of the Perch Rock pub, in New Brighton, Fred Hibberd, 65, is being treated after suffering suspected paralysis from the waist down and his son Joe, 41, a property developer, is undergoing reconstructive surgery on his arm.

Friend Wayne Maycock, 50, who had previously worked with Mr Allanson, has lost a leg, and broken his other leg and arm, also suffering rib injuries. Wallasey friends Paul Boon, 61, and driver, Stuart Gemmel, 44, also suffered injuries, but they are not thought to be life-threatening.

Mr Allanson’s girlfriend, Linda Connor, has travelled to America with Mr Allanson’s son, Neil.

His sister, Brenda Hughes, said: “Mal got out there as often as he could but he was a total workaholic, he’d often be up at 4am working and keeping in touch via email and the internet.

“He travelled out to Florida on October 15 and the lads went out to meet him on October 21.

“He ran an open house and everyone was welcome to come and visit him, he was generous to a fault. He knew Joe Hibberd through Wallasey golf club and business.

“Our dad is still alive, he’s 83 and obviously he’s devastated but we’re from a big family and we’re all rallying round for him.

“Mal was such a well-known man in the business community, we’ve been inundated with messages from well- wishers and we’ve had staff here in the office sobbing.

“He was the ultimate professional, his focus was always doing the best job possible.

“Everybody adored him.”

Staff at Royal Extrusions sent a personal message of condolence, praising Mr Allanson: “Our great boss, but you were so much more, a great friend who treated us more like family.”

Fred Hibberd has undergone spinal surgery and does not currently have the use of his legs.

Wallasey golf club manager Trevor Barraclough paid tribute to Fred’s son, Joe, as a skilled golfer and “a good, outgoing man liked by everyone”.

Police in Florida suspect Mr Elton had been drinking.

He escaped serious injury and the golden retriever on his lap was killed.

Police are awaiting the results of toxicology reports before charges are made.

He has been involved in nine traffic offences since 1997 and has also spent two days in jail for disorderly intoxication in 2002.