Teacher dies in crash on first day at work after cancer treatment

The friend of a Scottish teacher killed in a crash on her first day back to work after cancer treatment has launched a fund-raising campaign.

Mother-of-two Caroline Nelson, 45, died on Monday in the smash with an elderly couple in another car who were taken to hospital.

Mrs Nelson worked as an assisted special needs teacher at Parklands School in Helensburgh. She was travelling to work on Monday morning in a Vauxhall Meriva when the crash happened on the A818 Arden to Helensburgh road at Daligan. She died at the scene.

Now a Go Fund Me page has been launched.

Family friend Kate Mcmanus-coyle said: “I would like to ask friends of Caroline and Sandy to help us raise funds to help support Sandy and the two boys and Caroline’s family at this difficult time.

“Unfortunately at painful times like this, the bills keep coming in. The family are facing the funeral costs and were in the middle of moving houses which itself brings its own costs.

“We would like you to – instead of flowers and cards – consider a wee donation to help Sandy and the boys along over the coming weeks.”

She added that Mrs Nelson was a “special friend”.

The £1,000 fund-raising target was broken in less than an hour.

Mrs Nelson – who recently separated from actor husband Sandy Nelson – chronicled her experience of cancer treatment on Facebook. She wrote: “Cancer will affect all of us at sometime.

“I have to live with the possibility of the lymphoma returning for the rest of my life, those that assist us in dealing with this and through treatments are amazing people.

“Thanks for all your support and love and good wishes to all who are on this weird and scary journey too.”

She had spoken of being “run down, stressed and tired” before her diagnosis.

The former Glasgow School of Art student fundraised for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Her family said: “Caroline’s family are devastated and appreciate all the help and support they have received over the past few days.”

Sergeant Paul Macpherson appealed for witnesses to the crash which happened at 9:10am on Monday. He said: “Although a number of people stopped to assist at the time, I am still keen to hear from anyone who may have either witnessed the crash or indeed who saw the cars on the road prior to it happening.”

The other car was a Volkswagen Tiaguan. A man, 71, and a woman, 70, were taken to hospital in a serious condition.

0 Caroline Nelson was an assisted special needs teacher