A motorist killed in a double-fatal road crash was high on a cocktail of drugs when he swerved “violently” across the A9 into the path of an oncoming car.
James Williamson was seen driving erratically moments before the collision near Dunkeld earlier this year.
The 47-year-old died instantly from his injuries. The other driver, Leven man Mark Brodie, appeared to be conscious when he was found by a passing motorist, but died shortly afterwards.
Yesterday, a fatal accident inquiry into 48-year-old Mr Brodie’s death heard there was nothing he could have done to avoid the crash.
The court heard SSE employee Mr Brodie had been travelling home from Inverness when the accident happened at about 4pm on February 26.
Witness Craig Wemyss, 46, told the inquiry he was behind Mr Williamson’s car, described as a green Citroen Zara, as it travelled along the left hand side of the northbound dual carriageway.
Mr Wemyss said he noticed the car career off the road into chevron signs, before coming back into the flow of traffic.
“He was swerving in and out of vehicles and people had to take evasive action,” Mr Wemyss said.
“This happened about half a dozen times.”
Mr Wemyss tried to call police on the non-emergency 101 number, but did not get a response before losing his signal.
The inquiry heard Mr Williamson’s car continued to weave along the northbound road.
“He veered violently to the right hand side, crossing into the southbound carriageway,” said Mr Wemyss.
He said the Toyota collided with Mr Brodie’s silver Vauxhall Vectra.
“He would not have seen that car coming,” said Mr Wemyss. “The impact forced the Vectra on to the grass verge and the Zara jumped up into the air.
The inquiry heard that a post-mortem examination found Mr Brodie had died from multiple injuries and a “blunt force trauma”.
A toxicology examination of Mr Williamson, from Perth, found evidence of heroin and diazepam misuse in his system. Sheriff Christopher Shead said he would deliver his written verdict in due course.