Accidents claim lives of cyclist and soldier

WEEKEND road accidents claimed the lives of a cyclist who fell from his bike and a young soldier who had been supporting the Edinburgh Tattoo just hours earlier.

Daniel Pace, 31, from Edinburgh, was riding on an unclassified road from Amulree to Kenmore in Perthshire when he came off his bike and suffered a serious head injury on Saturday, despite wearing a helmet.

In a separate accident, 20-year-old Jamie Candlish, of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, died on Friday night near Penicuik, Midlothian, after a collision which left three other people in hospital.

On Saturday, the Scottish Ambulance Service and Tayside Police tried to save Mr Pace after his fall, at about 3pm, but he died at the scene a short time later.

Police are appealing for witnesses, but said no other vehicles were thought to be involved. His next of kin have been informed.

On Friday, Fusilier Candlish and his colleague, who was driving, had been working as part of the Edinburgh Tattoo support team, which helps behind the scenes and provides the guard of honour at the event.

Having returned to their barracks the pair were on their way out again when the collision happened, on the A701 near Penicuik at 11:45pm. Fusilier Candlish was pronounced dead at the scene and his friend was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he was said to be in a critical condition.

Royal Regiment colleagues paid tribute to the soldier last night. An army spokeswoman said: “Fusilier Candlish’s death is being felt very deeply by all his colleagues at 2 Scots and the army in Scotland.

“It is an absolute tragedy. Our thoughts are with his family and we are providing them with as much support as they need.”

The pair were travelling north in a black Vauxhall Corsa when it was involved in the collision with a silver Mitsubishi, whose passenger and driver were released from hospital following treatment.

The road was closed for four hours while police investigated the scene.

Lothian and Borders Police have appealed for information about the incident.

Just three hours before the Penicuik crash and just 15 miles away, another two-vehicle accident left one man in serious condition while his female partner was also treated.

Firefighters used hydraulic cutting gear to free the couple. They were given oxygen at the scene on the A703 before being taken by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

A man from the other vehicle was also taken to hospital.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: “The male and female in one of the cars were severely trapped by their legs and are receiving oxygen therapy.”

Reports on the road deaths will be submitted to the procurator-fiscal.

There have been two previous fatal crashes on the same stretch of road, near the Gowkley Moss roundabout close to Penicuik, in 2003 and 2008.