This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Tributes have been paid to three country music fans who were among five people killed in a crash on the A96 in Moray in north-east Scotland.



The three Scots who died in the collision on Thursday night have been named locally as Ted Reid, 63, from Macduff, and Evalyn Collie, 69, and Audrey Appleby, 70, from the Aberchirder area of Aberdeenshire.

They were travelling back from a country music night in Elgin when their 4x4 collided with a minibus carrying a group of Italian tourists.

Two Italians – a woman and a four-year-old boy – also died in the crash, which happened between Huntly and Keith shortly before midnight.

The driver of the car, named locally as Morag Smith, 39, from Aberchirder, was seriously injured and is being treated at Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin.

The four regularly attended a country night held once a fortnight by Elgin Country Music Club. The club’s president, Billy Main, said: “They were just very nice people. They just came and enjoyed themselves, I couldn’t say anything bad about them, they were just very friendly. They had been coming [to the club] for a few years off and on.

“You just can’t take it in, it’s unbelievable really. It was a shock enough to hear about the crash and then you realise it’s people you know just going home.”

A statement on the group’s Facebook page read: “It is with great sadness we have to mention that, late on Thursday night owing to a tragic accident east of Keith we lost three good attenders of our club who will be sadly missed by all.

“Our thoughts go out to their nearest and dearest. RIP. Our thoughts are also with Morag Smith in hospital in Elgin, and wish her a full recovery.”

Friends and members of the club posted messages of condolence, calling the three “really lovely people”.

The male driver of the minibus, two adult passengers – a man and a woman – and a three-year-old boy were also taken to hospital with a range of injuries. The woman is said to be in a critical condition at Aberdeen Royal infirmary while the three-year-old suffered minor injuries.

The Italian consulate in Aberdeen said it was supporting the families of the Italian citizens. Officers investigating the cause of the crash have appealed for witnesses to come forward and for dashcam footage to be submitted.