A 24-year-old man has appeared at Perth Sheriff Court on a petition alleging causing death by dangerous driving.
David Smillie MacDonald, from Aviemore, made no plea or declaration at Wednesday’s hearing.
The case was continued for further examination and Mr MacDonald was released on bail.
The petition before Sheriff Lindsay Foulis relates to an accident on the A9 Perth to Inverness Road, a mile north of Dunkeld, just before Christmas last year.
The three-vehicle collision claimed the life of Montrose man Gordon Cooper (57), who was driving an HGV from McKay’s Transport of Montrose.
The accident took place at 5.20am and was discovered by an ambulance on its way to Perth.
Firefighters worked in freezing conditions to free Mr MacDonald from the cab of his tanker.
Once he had been cut free, staff from Ninewell’s Hospital’s trauma team amputated his leg before taking him to hospital.
Two other people in Mr MacDonald’s vehicle were injured.
The road was closed for around 12 hours to allow police to carry out a crash scene investigation.
At one point more than 100 heavy vehicles that had been travelling south remained stacked up as they waited to use a diversion.
Mr Cooper, who died at the scene, was a husband and grandfather. His wife, Rosemary, paid tribute to him, saying his death “left a huge hole in our lives and that of his many friends.”