The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Gritter driver’s partner tells of heartache after probe into tragedy
inquiry: ‘David had been working hard in the hope of being offered permanent contract by firm’
THE heartbroken partner of a Dundee man who died after the gritter he was driving crashed has broken her silence on the accident that took his life.
It comes after a fatal accident inquiry into the death of Army veteran and Bear Scotland gritter driver David Keith drew to a close.
Mr Keith died on the morning of February 4, 2015 after his truck overturned in heavy snow on the A90, near Forfar, south of its junction with the unclassified road leading to Bogindollo.
Speaking for the first time since David’s death, days before his 30th birthday, partner Natalie White, 29, said he had been working hard in the hope of being offered a permanent contract by the firm after leaving the army.
She said: “David was just so dedicated to his job.
“He loved it and was hopeful he would get offered a permanent contract. It was heartbreaking.
“He was a careful driver and he knew the dangers of driving something so heavy — he would never go to work if he wasn’t up for it.
“It has been a long three years, but we were kept informed the whole way through, which made it easier.
“David wouldn’t have wanted me to wallow in sadness, he would have wanted me to get on with my life and be happy — that’s what I am going to try to do for him.”
In his determination, Sheriff Gregor Murray said Mr Keith’s death was caused by multiple injuries and blunt force trauma sustained in the accident after he lost control of the gritter lorry.
Natalie said the family could only surmise that the “experienced driver” had sneezed at the wheel – leading to the fatal accident.
David’s mum Shona also paid tribute to her son saying “he was the most loving son a mother could ask for”. She added: “I really miss him. “He was such a caring person and has left a massive hole in our lives.”
Natalie added David “loved his family”, spending all of his free time with them and dedicating his life to providing for them.
Gunner David spent eight years in the army, touring Afghanistan twice, though Natalie said he didn’t speak about the tours.
The pair had met online when David was stationed in England, near to where Natalie lived, before he was medically discharged after a knee injury and they moved back to Dundee together.
Natalie paid tribute to Bear Scotland saying they had been “amazing” in their support of the family – even paying for his funeral expenses.
“David wouldn’t have wanted me to wallow in sadness, he would have wanted me to get on with my life and be happy — that’s what I am going to try to do for him.
NATALIE WHITE