Lorry driver’s death shocks Highland Perthshire

Feb 5 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

RESIDENTS were coming to terms yesterday with a shocking fatal road accident near Pitlochry.

The early hours tragedy occurred on the A9 as a heavy goods vehicle, travelling south from Inverness to Grangemouth, collided with the bridge that spans Faskally Loch.

It is believed the lorry jack-knifed, causing its cab to collide with the bridge parapet, break off from the trailer and fall around 40 feet into the water.

No other vehicles were involved in the horrific incident, which occurred at around 12.15am.

The unnamed 54-year-old driver, who is believed to be from Kirkintilloch, was pronounced dead at the scene by staff from the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Local resident Anne Brown, who can see the bridge from her loch-side home, said both police and fire crews were quickly at the scene.

“As soon as I heard the police sirens I had this horrible feeling,” she told the PA yesterday.

“We’ve had accidents here before. I don’t know how this happened because it’s a straight piece of road.

“There was about two inches of snow here on Wednesday night but it had stopped by the time the crash happened.

“I was still up at half-past one this morning because I couldn’t stop thinking about the poor driver.”

Specialist fire and rescue crews from Perth and Dundee, appliances from Dunkeld and Pitlochry and police officers pulled the man from his submerged cab, but he was pronounced dead.

The lorry was not loaded, but due to trace amounts of fuel found in the water, representatives from SEPA attended as a precautionary measure.

Pitlochry and Moulin community council chairwoman Kathleen Scott said she was “deeply saddened”.

The road was closed by the local constabulary with traffic restrictions in place yesterday.

Tayside Police’s Chief Inspector Hugh Robson said repair work would be necessary before the damaged bridge re-opens.

“Motorists are advised that there will be some delays travelling on the A9 at this location,” he said.

Height restrictions were also enforced, leaving vehicles higher than 15’3” unable to travel.

A spokesperson for Tayside Police confirmed a report on the incident will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

Anyone who witnessed the collision should contact Tayside Police on 0300 111 2222.