A motorist has admitted causing the horror car crash that killed an “inspirational” Moray youth worker.
Angela Spalding, from Newmill, died on March 3 last year when her Audi TT was shunted from behind on the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road.
Yesterday, Erynn Buchan, a support worker from Huntly, pleaded guilty to causing the fatal accident at Elgin Sheriff Court by failing to pay proper attention to the road.
Both cars were travelling north on the busy trunk route near Keith at the Muir of Forgie junction when Mrs Spalding’s car slowed due to turning traffic.
Fiscal David Barclay explained that Buchan had failed to notice the hazard up ahead and drove her Vauxhall Astra into the rear of the vehicle.
And he said investigations could not rule out that the 36-year-old may have been distracted through a combination of the low sun and a man gesturing for her to slow down at the side of the road.
He added: “A witness at the side of the road had noticed the cars slowing and started waving his hands up and down to get the accused to slow down.
“The accused has failed to notice Angela Spalding’s car slowing down. Her daughter Kelsey recalls her mother shouting ‘watch out’ before lunging across the car to protect her.”
Mrs Spalding, 44, was a regular visitor to Elgin High School and Forres Academy in her role as a life coach with charity Quarriers.
Books of condolence were opened following the crash in order for students to pay tribute to the popular worker.
Mr Barclay explained that an off-duty doctor had attempted to perform CPR at the side of the road after recognising her condition was “critical”.
Defence agent Shahid Latif reserved making any statements in mitigation after sentence was deferred until April 17 for reports to be prepared.
Buchan, of East Park Road in Huntly, was banned from getting behind the wheel until that date after admitting driving without due care and attention.
