Crash mother fights for her life

Callum Bruce, who was only 16 months old, died on Wednesday night in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. His mother Fiona Black, of Fraser Place, Alford, remains in a critical condition at the same hospital.

Her partner Martin Bruce, who works in the paper industry, is understood to have been at her bedside last night after flying back to Scotland from Russia where he had been working.

The tragedy has left the Donside community stunned.

Alastair Ross, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Alford, said: “The father is very well known in the area and a popular man in Alford and everyone’s thoughts are with the family.

“I know Martin personally and he’s a really lovely man. He’s a wonderful family man and I just feel so desperately for him. Callum was their only child, as far as I know. It’s awful news and our hearts go out the family.”

He added: “It’s just hellish what’s happened. No doubt the police will be looking into the circumstances of the accident, but our only concern at the moment is for the family.

“Alford is a tight-knit community and people know each other and, of course, the community will rally round as much as you can in these tragic circumstances.”

The horrific crash between a Honda Civic, driven by Ms Black, and a silver Volkswagen Tiguan happened on the A944 dual carriageway between Kingswells and Westhill on the outskirts of Aberdeen in the middle of Wednesday afternoon.

The accident closed the busy commuter route for almost ten hours.

An elderly couple, aged 77 and 76, who were travelling in the Volkswagen were also injured in the crash, which happened between the Kingswells Roundabout and the Four Mile Garage.

Inspector Jim Wood, of the roads policing department of Grampian Police, said: “This is obviously a very distressing time for the family and friends of all of those involved and our thoughts are with them at this time.”