Italian driver goes on trial for fatal crash in Keith, Moray
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An Italian driver accused of causing an accident in Moray which killed five people – including his own young son – has gone on trial.
The case against Alfredo Ciociola is being heard at the High Court in Edinburgh.
The 50-year-old, who lives in Sicily, is accused of driving dangerously on the A96 between Keith and Huntly, near the Drummuir Junction, on July 26, 2018.
He is alleged to have fallen asleep at the wheel of a minibus which then collided with a 4x4 vehicle which was returning from a country music night in Elgin.
Three people in the 4x4 – Audrey Appleby (70) and Evalyn Collie (69) from Abercherdir as well as Edward Reid (63) from Macduff – died in the accident.
Meanwhile, two passengers in the minibus – the defendant's four-year-old son Lorenzo and Frances Saliba Patanè (63) who was from Sicily – also lost their lives.
In addition, the defendant and three other people were severely injured.
Lord Mulholland told the jury that the trial might continue into the week after next.
