Tributes to couple who died when car crashed 100f t into sea loch
TRIBUTES have been paid to a couple who died after their car plunged 100ft from a winding road into a sea loch.
Kenneth ‘Ross’ McCrimmon and his partner Rose Bassett died after their Honda Civic spun out of control on the narrow A832 and plummeted down a steep bank.
The car hit rocks before ending up submerged on its roof in Little Loch Broom following the crash near the village of Ardessie, Ross-shire, on Monday.
Mr McCrimmon, 44, and Miss Bassett, 48, who both worked for the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), died at the scene.
It is thought the pair were travelling to visit relatives in Ullapool when the tragedy unfolded.
Yesterday, locals in Poolewe, Ross-shire, where the couple lived, were said to have been left stunned by the tragedy.
James Conniff, 22, a barman at the Poolewe Hotel, said the couple were in the process of moving house, either to the nearby village of Aultbea or staff accommodation at Inverewe Gardens, where Miss Bassett worked in visitor services.
He added: ‘They have been together for some time, about 20 years or so. It is very sad what has happened. People are just stunned – it’s a small community and everybody knows everybody.
‘He was driving the car. I’m told that the car was going fast and it clipped the inside of the bend and then spun out of control. It really is a tragic thing.
‘They have both been in the bar regularly over the years. They always seemed happy. Everybody is trying to take it in. It is so sad all round.’
Colleagues at Inverewe Gardens, where wildlife photographer Mr McCrimmon also worked as a volunteer, were left distraught by the news of the couple’s deaths.
Carol-Ann Boyter, head of people at the NTS, said: ‘We are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Rose and Ross both contributed a huge amount to Inverewe Garden over the years.
‘We are working to support their colleagues at this difficult time and send sincere condolences to their families.’
The accident was reported to police at 3.45pm on Monday. Loch Ewe, Ullapool and Gairloch coastguard rescue teams and Lochinver Lifeboat attended the incident.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent six appliances to the scene.
The wreckage of the car was pulled from the waters of the loch at around 8pm.
It is understood formal identification of the victims was yet to take place yesterday.
Road policing sergeant Gregor Hay said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family of the two people who have died at this sad time.
‘Inquiries remain ongoing and we would ask that anyone who witnessed the collision or who saw a red Honda Civic travelling in the area at the time contact police.’
The stretch of the A832 where the accident happened is part of the North Coast 500 touring route around Scotland’s northern coast.
It starts in Inverness and heads west to Applecross before turning north, passing through Caithness and Sutherland and then back to Inverness.
Last year, an 85-year-old man died following an accident on the same section of the A832.
Roderick Sutherland, from Tain, Easter Ross, was a passenger in a car that crashed near Dundonnell.
Last year it was reported that accidents on the roads that make up the 516 mile route had increased by half since its launch in 2015.
‘People are just stunned’