Woman, 95, to stand trial over A99 cyclist death

A DRIVER accused of causing a fatal crash will be 95 years old when she stands trial.

Alice Ross – thought to be the oldest woman to face charges in Scotland – denies driving dangerously and causing the death of a cyclist.

She was excused attendance at a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday due to her age, the court heard.

Judge Lord Bannatyne fixed a trial date for 5 August in Inverness after hearing from lawyers about their preparations for the case.

Ms Ross’s defence QC, Ian Duguid, told the court that Ross blamed a medical condition for the tragedy near John o’Groats on 21 September, 2011.

It is alleged she drove on the wrong side of a road, mounted a verge, drove along a pavement and hit a couple who were holidaying in Scotland to celebrate their first wedding anniversary.

Elaine Dunne, 30, of Leicester, who had been standing next to husband Christopher and their bikes, died. Christopher Dunne was severely injured.

The couple had been on a week-long camping holiday and were cycling back to Wick to catch a train home. The smash happened on the A99 by Keiss, Caithness.