Driver denies fatal crash allegations

A WOMAN has gone on trial accused of causing a pensioner’s death while driving dangerously after taking prescription drugs and holding her mobile phone.

Anna-Marie Strachan is alleged to have lost control of her Peugeot 308 and crashed into a Volkswagen Passat on the A90.

The other driver, James Thomson, 73, was taken to hospital but died the following day.

His wife was injured in the crash on July 31, 2014, as were two children in Strachan’s car.

At the High Court in Aberdeen yesterday, Strachan, 29, denied causing Mr Thomson’s death and injuring three others by driving dangerously near Rathen, Aberdeenshire.

Advocate depute Stewart Ronnie said Mr Thomson, of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, suffered leg fractures and died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision. His 71-year-old wife had bilateral rib fractures, while a seven-year-old girl who had been in the Peugeot suffered a laceration on her spleen and fractured ribs.

A two-year-old boy was also injured. The children cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Strachan, of Fraserburgh, suffered hip and ankle fractures and was also admitted to hospital.

The court was told there was no record of Strachan having made or received a phone call or text message when the crash happened.

The jury heard a joint minute of agreed facts. No witnesses were called yesterday.

The charge states that Strachan failed to take evasive action when her car allegedly crossed on to the opposite side of the road and collided with Mr Thomson’s car.

The trial continues today.