Year’s ban for driver after couple died in crash in Aberdeenshire

A DRIVER was yesterday banned from the road for a year after the deaths of a “loving and caring” couple.

Gary McCrohon crashed into another car while driving his Nissan Skyline on the A944 dual carriageway between Aberdeen and Westhill on 18 February, 2009.

The 33-year-old, of Aberdeen, lost control of his sports car and smashed through the central reservation into the other car.

William Cable, 79, and his wife Elizabeth, 78, could do nothing to avoid the collision and died at the scene.

Their red Vauxhall Corsa was forced into the air by the impact and landed upside down in a field. .

McCrohon was charged with death by careless driving following a lengthy police investigation, but denied the offence. Yesterday, a jury of nine women and five men found him guilty of the lesser offence of careless driving by a unanimous verdict.

The jury took just over two hours to reach its decision following a five-day trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

McCrohon was fined £1,000 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Relatives of Mr and Mrs Cable paid tribute to the couple after the case and said they hoped lessons would be learned.

A family spokesman said: “The tragic loss of loving and caring parents, and grandparents is difficult for all to come to terms with.

“From today it is time to move on. The family can only hope and wish lessons will be learned and from that the loss of a life on the roads will be avoided.”