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Widow seeks action over Inverness lorry tragedy


By Donna MacAllister

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Longman lorry
Longman lorry

A BEREAVED woman whose husband was killed in a work-related road accident is writing to Highland Council’s chief executive demanding road-safety measures.

Roslyn Mykoliw’s husband Kevin was kneeling at the front of a 20-seater bus, carrying out an early morning brake test, when it hit an unlit parked lorry in the Longman Estate in Inverness.

The tail of the lorry crashed through the bus windscreen, injuring driver Arthur Botterill (64) and killing 37-year-old D&E Coaches employee Mr Mykoliw.

A fatal accident inquiry found that the accident in October 2008 could have been avoided if lorry operators had not parked there.

Following the incident, lorries stopped parking in Longman Drive but they are once again a common sight.

Lorry drivers say there is a lack of parking spaces in the city and they have to take rest stops.

Mrs Mykoliw (43) of Boswell Park, Inshes, wants more parking spaces created and double yellow lines on Longman Drive.

She said: “I am writing to Donna Manson, the chief executive of Highland Council, to ask why double yellow lines have never been put down.

“They’re fast enough to fine people for parking in other areas where an accident like this isn’t likely.”

A council spokeswoman said there were no current plans to impose parking restrictions and the council would only seek to get parking restricted if police asked for it.

Roads Policing Inspector Neil Lumsden said officers were regularly patrolling Longman Drive and action would be taken if necessary. He said HGV operators “should not leave trailers and vehicles unattended on the public roads because of the obvious hazard they present to other road users”.

HGV drivers say more parking spaces are needed in the city. The council is looking for funding to increase the 20 HGV spaces it has on Henderson Road to 25.


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