A young woman killed in a Perthshire road accident would not have died if she had been wearing a seatbelt, a sheriff has concluded.
In his written judgment following the fatal accident inquiry into the death of 29-year-old Carrie Anderson, Sheriff Michael Fletcher set out his findings.
Ms Anderson, of Muthill, died on February 23 on the Huntingtower to Crieff road at its junction with C460 Gorthy to Auchterarder road when her car was involved in an accident with another vehicle.
The inquiry at Perth Sheriff Court heard that she died as a result of cranial injury and blunt force trauma after being ejected from her car.
“The evidence presented by the Crown showed conclusively that Carrie Anderson’s death was the result of a road accident,” wrote Sheriff Fletcher.
“Unfortunately, she was thrown from the vehicle as a result of the collision and her fatal injuries were more than likely caused as a result of her violent leaving of the vehicle.
“The evidence was that it was likely that if she had been strapped in to the vehicle, and had not been thrown out, she would not have been killed. The other persons involved in the accident were secured and not injured.
“The damage to the vehicle driven by Carrie Anderson was more severe than that suffered by the other vehicle because of the nature of the collision but, because of air bags, it was more likely than not that her injuries would not have been fatal if she had remained in her seat.
“Thus, this is another case which underlines the vital importance of securing the seatbelt in the car every single time it is used and I have made this determination in order to state that publicly.”