As tributes poured in for a prominent island minister who died after being hit by a car in Edinburgh, police were last night still investigating the shocking incident.
The Rev Tom Sinclair, who was a commissioner at the General Assembly and clerk to the Presbytery of Lewis, was yesterday described as “a gentle, caring and incisive person”, who was “well loved for the amiable and jolly manner in which he carried out his duties”.
The 76-year-old had just left the Kirk’s General Assembly and was on Waverley Bridge walking across the entrance road to Waverley Station when he was struck by a reversing Vauxhall Astra car in rush hour traffic on Monday evening.
He died at the scene of the accident at about 5pm.
It was suggested yesterday that his death was linked to Network Rail’s newly-installed £1million security barriers.
A witness claimed the car driver had tried to enter the station, but found the road blocked by the barriers, reversed out and ran over Mr Sinclair.
Police appealed for witnesses, but neither they nor Network Rail were willing to comment on what happened.
One eye-witness, who asked not to be named, said: “The car drove on to the ramp leading into the station.
“After realising they’re not allowed down there, they then seem to have panicked and reversed out, colliding with the pedestrian.
“The car rolled over the man before hitting an Airlink coach parked opposite the station entrance.”
Passers-by Cat McIntosh, 21, from Dunbar, said: “I’m in shock. We were just going down to the station when we saw this. It’s horrible.”
A spokesman for Network Rail said: “This is a matter for the police at this stage and we will liaise with them during their investigation.”
A police spokesman said that a report was being prepared for the procurator fiscal and would not say if the car driver had been charged in connection with the accident.
Meanwhile, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev John Chalmers, remembered Mr Sinclair and his family in prayers at the start of the Assembly yesterday morning.
He said: “The news of Tom’s death in such tragic circumstances came as a terrible shock to the General Assembly.
“Tom Sinclair loved the Church of Scotland and loved General Assembly, we mourn his loss and we commend his wife and family to the care of the community of faith and to the grace God.
“Tom’s death is a painful tragedy for his wife and family and will come as a real blow to the Presbytery of Lewis, which he was still serving as Presbytery Clerk.”
Mr Sinclair, originally from Glasgow, was Clerk to the Presbytery of Lewis for over 30 years.
He is survived by his wife Pam and a son Jonathan, 43, who lives in Edinburgh.
Mr Sinclair entered the ministry young after studies at Trinity College Glasgow.
He completed his probation in Aberdeen Holburn Central with the legendary Dr Knox.
His first parish was Scourie in Sutherland – now known as Eddrachillis. He later moved to Martin’s Memorial, Stornoway in the 1970s where he served for almost 30 years.
Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact police by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.