Tributes to a young Lochaber man who “touched everyone’s hearts” have poured in since his tragic death in a car accident.
Kyle Bruce died when his car left the road on the A82 north of Spean Bridge.
Emergency services arrived around 11.32am on Wednesday, but the 17 year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. No other vehicles were involved and the teenager was the only occupant of the blue Audi A3 which went down an embankment between Letterfinlay and Invergloy.
Kyle, from Spean Bridge, was a mechanical engineering student and was on his way to college in Inverness when the accident happened.
His heartbroken mum, Andrea, said: “Kyle was in his second year at Inverness College UHI. He was very clever and always had a cheeky smile. He touched everyone’s hearts as he was such a caring person. He was my baby and I love him so much.”
The family are from Tomintoul, but moved to Spean Bridge five years ago.
Kyle’s dad, Kevin, said: “We moved here because of my work. Kyle went to Lochaber High School and played shinty for two years with the under-14s at the Lochaber Camanachd club.
“He was a bit of a perfectionist and everything – his clothes, his hair – had to be just so. He was a wonderful son and will be very sorely missed by everyone.”
Kyle’s granny, Ebeth Coutts, said: “He was a really caring person and wasn’t ashamed to show his emotions. I never left without a cuddle. He had so much respect for others and his granddad and I are very proud of him.”
His older brother, Lee, 19, added: “I will never forget him and will always love him.”
“The Kylester”, as the teenager called himself, had been going out with his girlfriend, Lily Burns, for 18 months. Mrs Bruce said: “Lily and her family are just devastated too. I am really thankful to them for making him so welcome.”
Police have asked anyone who witnessed the collision on Wednesday to come forward. Meanwhile, police have not yet named the 58-year-old woman who died after a head-on crash on the A9 on Tuesday night.
The collision happened near Alvie, by Aviemore