A9 crash victim named as retired antiques dealer from Killiecrankie

Nov 6 2012 by Perthshire Advertiser, Perthshire Advertiser

A Highland Perthshire man was named yesterday as the victim of a fatal three-car collision on the A9.

Tayside Police identified the victim as father-of-two Michael Guy Cox (84), of Inverclune, Killiecrankie.

Mr Cox was a retired antiques dealer who had a shop in Perth’s George Street during the 1980s. He married his wife Carol when he was in his sixties and the couple had two children, Anna (24) and Ralph (21).

Nick Burns, senior partner at Perth auctioneers Lindsay Burns and Company, paid tribute to Mr Cox: “Michael was a charming gentleman. I’m very saddened to hear of his death. As an antique dealer, he had a good eye.”

Mr Cox was an officer in the Seaforth Highlanders and the son of Lt Col Ralph George Snead Cox and Edith Colville. He was educated at the famous Catholic boys school Ampleforth College in Yorkshire and was listed in Burke’s Peerage.

A friend told The PA Mr Cox had lived at Inverclune since 1954, and that he had been a talented skier in his youth.

A 25-year-old woman and 54-year-old man were also injured in Thursday’s collision and were taken to hospital.

The incident happened at the turn off for Dalguise at about 4pm. The A9 was closed for hours while emergency services dealt with the incident and carried out investigation and recovery work.

The incident is the latest in a number of serious collisions on the A9, which has been dubbed a “killer” route.

On Saturday, October 20, Fiona Martin (29) from Uddingston died after her Honda Civic car ploughed into a stationary lorry in a layby north of Dunkeld.

The A9, which is due to be upgraded to a dual carriageway from Perth to Inverness by 2025, has claimed more than 20 lives in Perthshire alone in the last two years.

In the past three months six people have been killed on the road. A9 dualling campaigner Murdo Fraser MSP said the pattern of incidents was “all too common”.

Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart, who has also led calls for the A9 to be fully dualled, said: “I’m very sorry to hear of yet another fatality on the A9.

“My thoughts are with the bereaved family. It’s too early to be certain what the actual cause of this incident was but every collision on this road underlines the importance of the Scottish Government’s commitment to completing the dualling of the A9 as quickly as possible.”

Tayside Police want to hear from anyone who saw or spoke with Mr Cox prior to his journey. Anyone with information should call Police on 0300 111 2222.