A man has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a car crash on the Black Isle.
Arran Macrae, from Avoch, appeared in private at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday in connection with the tragedy on January 4 this year.
Angus Plowman was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness with serious head injuries after his Volkswagen and a Renault Megane collided, but he later died.
The 20-year-old, who was from Fortrose and was known as Gus, had been driving on the A832 at Rosehaugh, between Avoch and Munlochy.
Mr Macrae, also 20, made no plea or declaration at court yesterday, was committed for further examination and released on bail.
Friends and colleagues of Mr Plowman paid tribute to the former Fortrose Academy pupil following his death in January.
One described him as a “lovely, genuine guy who will never be forgotten”.
Another friend said: “One of the nicest boys I’ve ever met. Always had a smile on your face and were always making me laugh.”
Flowers were left at the scene of the crash, which happened on a stretch of the road to the west of the village of Avoch and about two-and-a-half miles from the Munlochy junction.
Mr Plowman had worked as a driver for Inverness-based Highland Motor Parts.
A police report on the crash was sent to the procurator fiscal at the time.
The tragic death was one of a series of fatal crashes on Highland roads at the start of this year.
In January, 37-year-old Osmond Pearson from Muir of Ord died at the scene of the three-vehicle smash on the A832 between the Tore roundabout and Muir of Ord.
In March, teenagers John Foggo from North Kessock and Georgia Gilham from Inverness died in an incident between Inverness and Croy, while 44-year-old Amanda Harold, from Cumbernauld, died after a two-car collision on the A9 Inverness to Perth road near Dalwhinnie in the same month.