A driver is to stand trial accused of causing the death of a Fife motorist in a crash on Scotland’s busiest motorway.
Alexander Cassidy is said to have struck Wayne Strickland on the M8 near Livingston, West Lothian in July last year.
On Thursday Cassidy faced a charge of causing the 49 year-old’s death by dangerous driving.
The 29 year-old entered a guilty plea to a reduced allegation of causing the incident due to driving without due care and attention.
But, prosecutor Lynsey MacDonald told the High Court in Glasgow: “That plea is not acceptable.”
Cassidy, of Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, will now stand trial in March next year.
It is alleged he drove a van dangerously and at “excessive speed” for the conditions on the westbound M8 on July 20 last year.
He is accused of not observing slow or stationary traffic before hitting the back of Mr Strickland’s vehicle.
This is said to have caused Mr Strickland’s car to strike a third vehicle which went into the rear of a lorry.
The indictment states Mr Strickland, of Inverkeithing, Fife, was so severely injured that he died.
The dad was a business advisor with West Lothian Council at the time of his death.
Cassidy is due to stand trial on March 14 in Livingston. The case could last up to five days.
