A 34-year-old man has appeared in court accused of causing the death of a former health boss.
Former NHS Highland chairwoman Caroline Thomson, 63, from Daviot, near Inverness, died in a two-car crash on the outskirts of Dingwall in August 2016.
Her husband Alan, 66, was seriously hurt.
Yesterday, Sean York appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court accused of causing Mrs Thomson’s death by driving carelessly.
It is alleged that on the A835 Tore to Ledmore, one mile west of the Maryburgh roundabout, Dingwall, he drove without due care and attention, at excessive speed and swerved from his side of the carriageway on to the opposite carriageway.
The charge also alleges that he drove into the path and collided with the Audi 8 driven by Mr Thomson, seriously injuring him and causing injuries to Mrs Thomson, the front seat passenger, from which she died.
York, of Capmartin Road, Coventry, denied the charge. He will go on trial on August 16.
Mrs Thomson was made an OBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list in 2003 for her services to the NHS, having served a term and a half as chair of the Highland NHS board from 1997 to 2004.
Mrs Thomson, a nurse, had lived in the Highlands since 1974 and had two sons, Alistair and Richard, and three grandchildren.
As well as chairing the Highland Community Care Forum and was helping set up Caring and Sharing Highland, Mrs Thomson and her husband were keen sailors and regularly attended Scottish country dancing events.
