The lorry driver responsible for killing a former Perth and Kinross councillor in a car crash has been ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.
Keith Murray ploughed into a Renault Megane being driven by Barbara Vaughan after failing to stop at a traffic queue on the A9 near Killiecrankie in December 2017.
At the High Court in Glasgow, Murray was handed a sentence of 300 hours of unpaid work, having pled guilty last month.
The 49-year-old was also banned from driving for six years after he admitted a charge of causing death by careless driving.
Strathtay councillor Vaughan was freed from the car and airlifted to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee with broken ribs and leg injuries.
The High Court in Glasgow were told that the 77-year-old was airlifted to Ninewells, however the popular Tory councillor died from her injuries three days later after suffering a collapsed lung.
Prosecutor Angela Gray told the court roadworks caused a “long line” of traffic and drivers, including Mrs Vaughan, had to stop.
Miss Gray said one witness noticed Murray approaching in his Mercedes lorry.
She said: “For some unknown reason, he failed to react to the stationary traffic.”
Murray didn’t stop his lorry and smashed into the widow’s car, causing it to career down a verge off the road.
Lawyer Barry Smith said his client never wanted to drive again.
Mr Smith said: “He said he did not feel tired or unwell that day.
“However, he failed to observe the queuing traffic or react until it was sadly too late.
“He cannot explain that lapse, but he clearly struggles with the inability to explain his actions.”
Mrs Vaughan lived in Caputh and was latterly considering a move to be nearer her family, after the death of her husband Robin.
Having been a leading figure in education across Tayside for decades, a young carers’ centre is being planned in Ms Vaughan’s honour.
In February, Perth and Kinross Council announced details of a £250,000 advocacy support service targeting groups of “young people at a key transition points in their life”.
