The man killed in a horror crash on the A9 was a popular Highland businessman.
Tributes have been paid to Noel Gilbert, who died in the early hours of Monday morning during a break at a popular Sutherland caravan park.
The 40-year-old, wo ran a garage in Dingwall but lived in Inverness, was hit by a van on the main road north near Dornoch.
Mr Gilbert was declared dead at the scene and police last night urged anyone who could help piece together his final moments to come forward.
Officers believe that Mr Gilbert walked from the Embo area – he was understood to have been staying at Grannie’s Heilan Hame – to the A9 where the tragic accident happened
Officers issued an appeal to anyone who may have seen a man matching Mr Gilbert’s description walking between Embo, Dornoch and Camore or on the A9 some time between 9.45pm on Sunday night and 2.30am the following morning, when the accident happened.
Mr Gilbert, who lived in Inverness, was the owner of Gilbert Motors in Dingwall with his wife Marie.
His family are well known in the Ross-shire town and community leaders expressed shock at the news last night.
Dingwall councillor Margaret Paterson, Dingwall and Seaforth, said: “It’s just a tragedy. I was up at the school with my granddaughter when somebody said and I was just shocked by the news.
“It’s a lovely family, very well known in Dingwall and they’ll just be devastated by this.
“All my thoughts and prayers are with them at this tragic time. I’m sure I’m not alone in that.”
She added that the family was “well loved” very popular in Dingwall.
Paying tribute to Mr Gilbert, she added: “He was a gentleman, a really lovely guy.
“Very well known in Dingwall and highly though of. It’s an absolute tragedy. As I said my prayers are with his family.”
Fellow Dingwall councillor Graham MacKenzie said: “It’s very sad news indeed.
“I’m desperately sorry for the family and my thoughts go out to his father who I know and respect as well as the rest of the family.”
The accident happened near Evelix on the A9 south of Dornoch between the Clashmore and Camore junctions at about 2.30am on Monday.
Motorists were left with a lengthy diversion as specialist road policing officers carried out a thorough investigation at the scene.
A police spokeswoman said: “Around 2.30am on Monday, August 15, emergency services were alerted to a road traffic collision on the A9 near Dornoch.
“Sadly a male pedestrian died at the scene.
“The road was closed for approximately twelve hours to allow a full investigation to take place.
“The man’s identity can be confirmed as Noel Gilbert, aged 40, from Inverness.”
She added: “As part of ongoing inquiries, officers are appealing to anyone who saw a man dressed in dark clothing in the vicinity of Embo, Dornoch, Camore or the A9 between 9.45pm on Sunday and 2.30am on Monday, August 15 to make contact with police via 101.
