A town was in mourning last night after police named the man killed in a collision near Fyvie.
William Black, from Turriff, was working on the B9005 between Gight and Fyvie on Tuesday for Aberdeenshire Council when he was fatally injured after being struck by a tipper lorry.
The 56-year-old, known to many as Billy, had worked for the local authority at its Turriff depot for the last five years.
He had been deployed at the rural road to help repair damage, caused during storms earlier this month.
His colleagues, many of whom were visibly distressed by the incident, could be seen making phone calls from the side of the road just hours after his death.
Police, meanwhile, enforced a one-mile closure of the route.
Last night, tributes were paid to Mr Black.
Philip McKay, head of roads and landscape services at Aberdeenshire Council, described his death as a “great shock” to the entire roads team.
He said: “Billy had worked at our Turriff depot as a charge hand for the last five years and will be sadly missed by his co-workers.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues, and we will work closely with the police and Health and Safety Executive in connection with any subsequent investigation of this accident.”
Inspector Jon Barron, of the divisional road policing unit, added: “This was a harrowing incident for all those involved and one that has very sadly resulted in the tragic loss of life.
“First and foremost, our thoughts at this particularly traumatic time are with Billy’s family, friends and work colleagues.”
Local councillors also shared their sympathies.
Anne Robertson said she understood that Mr Black was a well-known and popular man within the community.
She added: “It’s just a devastating situation for his family, friends and colleagues, my thoughts and prayers are with them as they try to come to terms with the loss.
“It will have an impact right across the community – it’s a terrible tragedy and words cannot express appropriately how you feel when these things happen.”