November date is likely for a Fatal Accident Inquiry into death of Inverness nursery teacher five years ago

A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) into the death of an Inverness nursery teacher is likely to open in the city in early November, five years after the tragedy.

Chloe Morrison was 26 years old when she was hit struck by an unsecured stabiliser arm jutting from a passing truck in Drumnadrochit on October 25, 2019.

At the time she was walking with her mother along a pavement near the Loch Ness-side village.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank, fiscal depute Gavin Callaghan and lawyers Andrew Logue and Karen Railton, representing the lorry driver and his employer respectively, took part in a “virtual” preliminary hearing to discuss the availability and number of witnesses, the likely length of the inquiry, and suitable dates for it to be held in Inverness Justice Centre.

Miss Morrison’s parents Karen and Robert were also online to listen to the proceedings, and they heard the lawyers express their condolences over what happened.

At the end of the 30 minute online session, Sheriff Cruickshank decided that a further preliminary hearing would be required to firm up dates and availability of witnesses, and this was fixed for June 14, again online.

Among the purposes of the FAI is to establish what, if any, precautions could have been taken to prevent the accident happening.

Lorry driver John O’Donnell (53), who worked for Glenevin Ltd of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, stood trial at the High Court in Inverness in October 2022 accused of causing Miss Morrison’s death by dangerous driving.

He was found guilty by a jury of the lesser offence of causing death by careless driving and was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for 12 months.