Inquiry examines nursery teacher's death near Drumnadrochit

Inquiry examines nursery teacher's death on A82 A nursery teacher's death on the A82 in the Highlands is being examined by a fatal accident inquiry (FAI).

Chloe Morrison was struck by a steel beam of a lorry's extended stabiliser leg near Drumnadrochit, south of Inverness, on 25 October 2019.

The 26-year-old was walking along a pavement with her mother at the time.

John O'Donnell, 53, from Inverurie, was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for 12 months in 2022. Ms Morrison's family called for a review of the sentence.

At the beginning of the inquiry in Inverness, a victim impact assessment provided by Ms Morrison's family was read out.

It described her as an adored and very-much loved daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend to many.

The court heard from three witnesses, including lorry driver O'Donnell.

The inquiry focused on the vehicle's worthiness, O'Donnell's induction to work for his employer at the time and safety checks that are required to be carried out by drivers of vehicles with cranes fitted.

The inquiry adjourned to resume next month before Sheriff Ian Cruickshank delivers his determination at a later date.

Loved daughter O'Donnell, who denied causing Ms Morrison's death, was sentenced at the High Court in Stirling.

His earlier trial at the High Court in Inverness heard he had driven his lorry from Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire to Skye on 24 October 2019.

He stayed overnight and said he had dropped stabilising legs on the lorry the following day because of gales - although he was not trained to do so - before setting off on his return journey.

O'Donnell insisted he did not extend or touch the controls of the stabilisers' outrigger beams.

But CCTV showed the nearside outrigger's yellow warning sign, indicating it was unlocked, when he filled up with diesel at a filling station on Skye.

A passenger in a car travelling in the opposite direction also saw the outrigger swing out seconds before reaching the collision scene.

The court heard Ms Morrison died from multiple fractures.