Double death crash leaves two children orphaned

Two young children have been orphaned after their mother died in a horrific crash in the Highlands that also claimed the life of an Inverness businessman.

Eleanor Campbell, 39, of Baddidarroch, Lochinver, and Douglas Keith, 64, of Balmoral Terrace, Inverness, were killed in the three-vehicle collision on the A9 Inverness-Perth road.

Mrs Campbell’s two children, Iain, 6, and Ella, 2, were passengers in her vehicle, but did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

Her death comes two years after her husband, Mark, a former deputy leader of Assynt Mountain Rescue Team, died aged 41 following an asthma attack.

Mr Keith was the managing director of Daniel’s Sweet Herring, which trades from Achnagonalin industrial estate at Grantown.

The crash, involving vehicles being driven by Mrs Campbell, Mr Keith and a third unnamed motorist, who received minor injuries, happened on a single-carriageway stretch of the A9 at Crubenmore, two miles north of Dalwhinnie, about 7pm on Thursday.

Mr Keith had been travelling north to Inverness and had been due to be on the road earlier but his flight from London to Edinburgh had been delayed.

It is understood Mrs Campbell was heading south to visit her stepbrother, who had suffered a heart attack.

It is believed he lives in Glasgow and had been treated in hospital in Newcastle.

Lochinver was in mourning yesterday, with residents left shocked at the double tragedy.

Mr Campbell died in August 2007 following an asthma attack during the night.

Assynt Community Council chairman Robin Noble said: “Everyone is shocked and stunned. People are aware of the family tragedy in the past.

“Eleanor was putting her life back together for the children. I think everyone is thinking of the two wee ones at the moment.”

Neighbour Lyn Fairchild said: “She was a lovely girl, a wonderful neighbour.

“Everybody got on well with her. The news hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Mrs Campbell ran Assynt Adventures and arts-and-crafts shop Sutherland Gemcutters, both in Main Street, Lochinver.

Mr Keith’s widow, Fiona, and the couple’s son, Jonathan, 14, were comforted by relatives and friends yesterday.

In a statement, Alastair Salvesen, chairman of Dawnfresh Seafoods, the parent company of Daniel’s Sweet Herring, said: “It is with the deepest regret that I have to announce the tragic and sudden death of Douglas Keith, the managing director of Daniel’s Sweet Herring.

“I am sure everyone in the business would like to express there sincere condolences to his wife, Fiona, their son and his extended family in these very sad and difficult times.”

Tony Evans, operations manager at Daniel’s Sweet Herring, said employees had been left devastated by Mr Keith’s death.

He added: “He will be greatly missed. Our prayers and thoughts are with Fiona and Jonathan. They are the most important people at this time.”

The firm was based at Dell of Inshes in Inverness before moving to Nairn and latterly Grantown.

The accident happened on a stretch of road where a £9million widening project was due to get under way last year but was delayed until 2010 after Network Rail raised an objection with Transport Scotland.

The Network Rail objection has since been withdrawn, meaning work to create an overtaking lane at the accident blackspot will start in the 2010-11 financial year.