A man has been remanded in custody after admitting causing a fatal head-on collision while driving under the influence of cocaine on a major Highland road.
Deadly Collision on the A9
Jamie Little, 41, veered into the wrong lane on the A9 on April 30, 2024, and smashed his Toyota Hilux into a Mini Cooper driven by Margaret Sutherland. The 59-year-old mother of four, a carer from Invergordon, suffered catastrophic injuries and died at the scene.
Shocking Levels of Cocaine in System
When police arrived, Little provided a roadside saliva specimen which tested positive for cocaine. A subsequent blood test at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness revealed he had 57mg of cocaine per litre of blood, far exceeding the legal limit of 10mg.
Advocate depute Alex Prentice, KC, told the High Court in Edinburgh that police believed the collision was "entirely" Little's fault for entering the northbound lane. Little, from Alness in Ross-shire, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and to drug driving.
Previous Conviction and Remorse
The court heard that Little, who worked as a service engineer maintaining hydro sites, has a previous conviction for dangerous driving. His defence solicitor advocate, Shahid Latif, stated his client was "acutely aware" of the devastation his actions had caused Margaret Sutherland's family.
Lord Summers deferred sentencing for the preparation of background reports and rescinded Little's bail, ordering him to be held in custody until the next hearing.
