An Auchterarder man has admitted causing the death of another driver in a road accident.
James Low accepted he caused his lorry to collide with a vehicle being driven by Roy Greene on the A9 Stirling to Perth road on October 11.
Mr Greene, a father of two from Kilsyth in Lanarkshire, died as a result of his injuries and a second man was hurt in the crash.
Low’s solicitor Douglas Russell told Perth Sheriff Court his client had admitted guilt from the outset. However, the court heard there were a number of discrepancies between separate crash investigations carried out by Tayside Police and on behalf of the defence.
As a result, both depute fiscal Alan Kempton and Mr Russell called for a proof of mitigation in order to discuss Low’s actions prior to the collision.
Mr Russell said: “There has never been any doubt as to the guilt of the accused. The issue we are compelled to ask the court for proof of mitigation is how far the deceased, in his vehicle, was from the accused when the accused began to move out.
“There are three separate issues to that which I am perfectly prepared to lead to proof of mitigation. First is that the police, when assessing the likely acceleration of the lorry, have come up with a figure that I feel is wrong.
“Second is that the police calculations were of the point of view of the deceased driver when he saw the lorry moving away.
“They did not take any account of the accused sitting in his lorry looking down the A9 and if he saw the vehicle as being far enough back.”
The court also heard how, while being interviewed under caution, 49-year-old Low claimed Mr Greene had been indicating to turn right and had flashed his lights.
“There are three categories within cases of death by careless driving,” continued Mr Russell. “The accused’s position is that he would like this matter resolved as soon as possible.
“He has had it hanging over him and he is upset about that. On the other hand, if I can persuade you that this falls into the lower of the three categories, then I have to leave it in your hands as to how you wish to proceed.”
Low, of Duchally Place admitted that on October 11 last year, on the A9 Stirling to Perth road at its junction with the road to Dalreoch, he caused the death of Mr Greene by driving a lorry without due care and attention, causing vehicles to collide whereby Mr Greene was so seriously injured that he died and Ronnie Simpson, a passenger, was injured and both vehicles were damaged.
A proof of mitigation hearing will take place on October 17.