Donald MacLeod, of Drumossie Avenue, Inverness, died with two Peruvian teenagers on a church exchange visit, when his Honda CRV 4x4 veered off the northbound carriageway between the Raigmore Interchange and the Longman Roundabout and collided with a stationary lorry in a lay-by.

Mr MacLeod's funeral will be at noon today at the Black Isle's Knockbain Free Church, Bogallen, Munlochy, and his family are planning to donate all contributions from the service to the school of the two teenage boys Carlos Ruben Gonzales (15) and Gianmarco Stefano Peschiera (14).

The youngsters, from the Colegio San Andres, translated as St Andrew's School, in the Peruvian capital Lima were visiting Inverness in a trip organised by the Free Church of Scotland.

"The result of the postmortem that the family was given was that Mr MacLeod died of a heart attack," said Rev Alex MacDonald, Free Church spokesman.

"This is a great tragedy. Our hearts go out to the families of the young people and of the driver.

"It is particularly sad that these teenagers should die so far from home and in what they would have regarded as a safer environment than their home city.

"The other pupils are going down to Edinburgh and will stay with other Free Church Families before flying back home on Monday."

The boys were part of a group of 12 students and two teachers who were due to meet up with the rest of the group at Knockbain Free Church for a trip to the Isle of Lewis.

All three died at the scene of the accident and their bodies were cut free by members of Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service.

It was the fourth accident in five days within half a mile of the Longman Roundabout.

The Free Church of Scotland has been involved in Christian work in Peru for nearly a century, and the Colegio San Andres was founded by the Free Church.

The school has been flying its flag at half-mast in respect of their lost students. The school's director, Dora Quiroz, said it was a tragic accident and it was very sad for them to have lost their best pupils.

The group had recently been attending Free Church Youth Camps and the boys had stayed with Mr MacLeod, a devout Christian, on Sunday night.

"I was shocked and deeply saddened by his death," said Douglas Simpson, the rector at Fortrose Academy where Mr MacLeod had been rector for 14 years.

He started his teaching career at Dingwall Academy in 1952, but moved later that year to Fortrose Academy, where he remained for 34 years, becoming principal teacher of geography and then head teacher in 1972 retiring in 1986.

In recognition of his service to the school, he was invited to cut the first turf when its £5.1 million extension began in June 2001, and he wrote a book called "History of Fortrose Academy" which was launched three months ago.

"He was always very kind and helpful to me since I moved here in 1989 and will be fondly remembered," Mr Simpson said.

"We will certainly be planning a tribute and talking about what we can do to commemorate his contribution to the school."

Mr MacLeod, who was not married, worked with Blythswood Care as a volunteer, helping the development of databases.

"It is a terrible loss for everybody and he did so much for our charity," said George Dunn, the financial controller at the organisation, which is in its 40th year.

"He helped to send goods abroad and collect money as well as designing and building the database which helps record and control the cash coming into the charity."

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