AN ELDERLY Perthshire man was killed after crashing his car on his way to visit his dying wife in hospital, it emerged yesterday.

To compound the tragedy, 86-year-old Sandy Scott’s wife Jean (82) had already died.

Last night the small community of Spittalfield was coming to terms with the death of the popular couple in such tragic circumstances on the same day.

Mr Scott was on his way to Perth Royal Infirmary to see his wife Jean when he was killed after his car plunged down an embankment near Murthly on Thursday.

But Mrs Scott, who had suffered a short illness, had already died in the hospital’s Tay Ward as her husband made his way to Perth to be at her side.

“Everybody is devastated,” said one resident who knew the couple well.

“They were so well-liked and known to everybody in Spittalfield, Caputh and Murthly.”

She said that when local people became aware that Mr Scott had not made it to his destination, many went out looking for him.

He had set off early in the morning but it was not until 3pm that a passing motorist discovered Mr Scott’s car on its side in the Murthly Burn, 20 to 30 feet below road level. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The road, which runs between Caputh and Murthly, was closed for several hours while police accident investigators examined the scene.

Mr Scott, who served in the RAF, had taken over the joinery business in Spittalfield in the 1950s and had remained in the village after his retirement.

His wife was an active member of the WRI and the local guild along with other community activities.

The couple have three daughters, Sandra, Sheena and Maureen who all went to school locally.