A Moray man has admitted causing the crash that resulted in the tragic death of a 21-year-old biker.
James Munro, from Burghead, was driving on the wrong side of the road when his Vauxhall Astra collided head-on with the motorbike being ridden by Euan Slater.
Yesterday, the 34-year-old admitted causing the collision by driving without due care and attention – less than two weeks short of the first anniversary of the horror smash.
Mr Slater died at the scene after sustaining horrific injuries.
Munro had attempted to overtake another car on the B9089 Kinloss to Burghead road when the crash occurred on November 25 last year.
It is understood Mr Slater’s bike was driven backwards, against its own momentum, due to the force of the crash near the Roseisle sewage works before it came to rest.
Munro’s car veered off the road towards trees after the impact.
The Burghead resident has now pleaded guilty at Elgin Sheriff Court to performing an overtake on the rural road when “it was not safe to do so”.
The charge states: “You did collide with the motorcycle, whereby your car and the motorcycle were damaged and Euan Slater was thrown from the motorcycle on to the car before landing on the road whereby he sustained injuries from which he died there and then.”
Defence advocate David Moggach stressed that while his client had been in trouble with the authorities in the past he had not had any convictions for the last 14 years.
Family and friends of Mr Slater were at Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday to see Munro face justice.
Police maintained a watching brief as the group waited outside the building on the town’s High Street for the driver to leave.
It is understood Munro was allowed to leave the court complex through a different exit.
A shrine to Mr Slater has been created at the roadside on the B9089 near the location where the motorcyclist lost his life.
Candles and flowers have been placed within the memorial along with protein shakes and energy drinks.
A message reads: “Keep growing strong and stay close. Loved and missed by all the family.”
Munro, of Fraser Road in Burghead, was banned from driving at court yesterday until his next appearance on December 12.
Sentence was deferred until that date for background reports to be prepared after the motorist admitted driving without due care and attention by attempting to overtake when it was not safe to do so by crossing into the opposing carriageway directly into the path of Mr Slater’s oncoming motorbike.
