THE GIRLFRIEND of an accident victim sobbed in court yesterday as she told how her fiance asked her to hold his hand before he died beside her.

Maria Williams (51) said she still had nightmares about the crash in October 2005, and felt that her life was over.

She and her partner John Briggs (60) were travelling in a Volvo estate on the A82 Inverness to Fort William road between their Cannich home and Inverness when they were involved in an accident at the Abriachan junction, Loch Ness.

Witnesses told an Inverness High Court trial that the couple’s vehicle flew through the air and landed on its roof after colliding with a Ferguson Transport lorry carrying a crane.

The lorry driver, Thomas Findlay (29) of Douglas Place, Fort William, denies causing Mr Briggs’ death by dangerous driving.

Findlay, who was the second driver in a convoy of three Ferguson lorries travelling south along the A82, is said to have swerved across the carriageway and collided with Mr Briggs’ oncoming vehicle.

It is also alleged that the brakes on the lorry were not in good order, and that he drove too close to the vehicle in front.

Ms Williams told the court that she and Mr Briggs, a retired insurance consultant, were to marry in March 2006.

The couple were travelling to Inverness on October 10, 2005, at 1.15pm when the accident occurred.

A car was stopped to turn right at the junction, with a lorry stationary behind it.

Ms Williams said as they passed the junction, she saw a second lorry come on to their side of the road.

“There was nowhere for it go,” she said, “I think there was a bang. I do not remember anything after that until I was stuck in the car. I knew it was upside down and I remember being cut out.

“John wanted to hold my hand. I could see his hand in front of me but I couldn’t reach it,” she said.

Ms Williams injured her sternum, pelvis and nerves in her neck.

Passing driver off-duty firefighter Iain Macleod of Drumnadrochit, tried to save Mr Briggs’ life by clearing his airways.

He said, “I supported the gentleman’s head and neck and could hear him breathing. I knew he was losing a lot of blood but it was not easy to get in to stem it.”

Mr Macleod was still supporting Mr Briggs when he died.

Nicholas Dawson, an experienced mechanic who helped recover and test the truck, said that the brakes felt wrong and were “spongy.”

The trial, before Lord Kinclaven, continues today.