Inverness taxi driver may have been unwell before fatal crash near Ardgay
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An Inverness taxi driver may have suffered a “medical episode” moments before a fatal crash a sheriff has said.
Evan Cameron (63) was alone in his Volvo V40 car when it crashed through a bridge parapet on the B9176 Struie road near Ardgay and fell on to rocks below on June 5 last year.
Mr Cameron was pronounced dead at the scene and a post-mortem report showed he was suffering from emphysema.
Set out within a fatal accident inquiry report published this week it speculated that a narrowing of the arteries as a result of this condition could have caused chest pain, or that Mr Cameron might have suffered a mini stroke.
The inquiry also heard about an episode on April 28, 2016 when police found Mr Cameron slumped in his car outside a supermarket car park and called an ambulance.
Examinations at Raigmore Hospital found nothing untoward and though police informed the DVLA that Mr Cameron had suffered a suspected stroke a further examination by his GP also did not reveal any medical difficulties.
Mr Cameron suffered severe head and chest injuries as a result of the accident and the official cause of death was noted as “multiple injuries due to (or as a consequence of) car collision with bridge parapet.”
In his determination, Sheriff Christopher Dickson said that “whilst it was possible” Mr Cameron had suffered “some sort of medical episode” it was the injuries he had sustained in the accident that had proved fatal.
He said: "At the outset of the inquiry I extended my condolences to Mr Cameron's family. I was joined in those condolences by the procurator fiscal.
"I wish to formally repeat my condolences to Mr Cameron's family in this determination."
