Tributes to Oban man, 24, killed in quarry crash

Investigators probe theory that worker’s land rover overturned

By rita campbell

Published:

A 24-year-old man killed in an accident at a remote west Highland quarry was named by police yesterday as Kenneth Campbell, from Oban.

Mr Campbell, of Etive Road, Dunbeg, who worked as a mechanical fitter, was the only occupant of a Land Rover which was involved in an accident at remote Glensanda Quarry on the side of Loch Linnhe in Morvern, Argyll, on Sunday.

It is understood the vehicle overturned.

Owned by Aggregate Industries, Europe’s biggest granite quarry can only be reached by ferry from Oban and Barcaldine.

An air ambulance was sent to the scene, but Mr Campbell was found to be dead when the aircraft arrived.

Chief Inspector John Chisholm, area commander for Skye and Lochaber, said: “The call came in to us from Strathclyde Police just after 6pm on Sunday reporting an accident at Glensanda Quarry site.

“Officers from Fort William arrived mid-evening. They made initial inquiries with the personnel at Glensanda Quarry, who confirmed that a 24-year-old man from the Oban area had sustained fatal injuries having been involved in an accident while driving a Land Rover.”

Police were back at the site yesterday making further inquiries to try to establish the cause of the accident.

Chief Inspector Chisholm said a report would be submitted to the procurator fiscal at Fort William.

Dunbeg Community Council chairwoman Gwyneth Neal said: “The whole village is absolutely devastated. He was from a very well-known family who are four generations in the village.

“The thoughts of every- body will be with the family.”

A spokesman for Aggregate Industries said: “An incident involving a traffic accident, which resulted in the death of an employee of one of our contractors, took place at our Glensanda Quarry on Sunday evening.

“We are currently working with the authorities to assist and support their investigation and at this stage it would be inappropriate to make further comment. Our thoughts are with those affected by yesterday’s incident.”

Morvern Community Council chairman Iain Thornber said: “The Morvern peninsula has had a close association with the Glensanda Quarry since it began in 1981. Over the years it has provided long-term stable employment and has helped many useful local causes.

“The whole community is naturally deeply saddened by this tragic accident and our heart-felt sympathy goes out to the deceased’s family, friends and workmates.

“Aggregate Industries, which owns the quarry, are committed to site safety and have a record second to none in the quarrying world. They will, I am sure, carry out a thorough investigation into the matter.”

A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said they were assisting the police investigation.