A woman has gone on trial accused of killing a north-east pensioner by driving dangerously – with her mobile phone in her hand.
Anna-Marie Strachan denies getting behind the wheel having taken prescription drugs, and driving along the A90 Aberdeen to Fraserburgh road while holding her phone.
It is alleged the 29-year-old lost control of her Peugeot 308 and crashed into a another car, being driven by Fraserburgh man James Thomson, near Rathven.
The 73-year-old was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, but died the next day from his injuries.
Mr Thomson’s wife was also injured in the crash, as well as two children aged seven and two who were travelling in Strachan’s car.
Strachan, of Glover Close, Fraserburgh, went on trial at the High Court in Aberdeen yesterday accused of causing Mr Thomson’s death and injuring three others.
It is alleged she failed to take evasive action when her car crossed onto the opposite carriageway and collided with Mr Thomson’s Volkswagen Passat.
The incident is also said to have caused another driver travelling behind the Passat to take evasive action.
The court heard there was no dispute that Strachan was driving the Peugeot when the crash happened on July 31, 2014.
And the jury was told in a joint minute of agreement that there was no record of Strachan having made or received a phone call or text message on her phone around the time of the accident.
Advocate depute Stewart Ronnie said Mr Thomson suffered fractures on his right leg and died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision.
His 71-year-old wife had bilateral rib fractures, while the seven-year-old girl travelling in the Peugeot suffered a small laceration on her spleen and fractured ribs.
Strachan, who suffered a hip and ankle fracture, was also admitted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
The trial continues.