Aberdeenshire driver dies following tipper van collision

Police Scotland has confirmed that the 48-year-old driver of a white Ford Transit tipper van, later named as Aberdeenshire council employee William Buchan, was involved in a collision with a Mercedes Vito panel van.

The incident occurred on the A90 Aberdeen to Fraserburgh road, just south of the village of Hatton, at around 10.45am on Thursday (12 May).

Mr Buchan and the 26-year-old driver of the panel van were taken by ambulance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary shortly after the collision, where Mr Buchan later died.

The driver of the panel van, who has not been named, was treated for serious injuries at the hospital. Both drivers were the sole occupants of their respective vehicles.

Aberdeenshire council has paid tribute to the Peterhead-resident Mr Buchan, who had worked in the authority’s waste team for several years.

‘Sadness’

Stephen Archer, Director of Infrastructure Services, said: “It is with great sadness that we have learned today of the death of a colleague in a road accident. George, as he liked to be known, had worked with our waste team for nearly five years and was well respected amongst his peers.

“Our thoughts go out to his friends and family at this time and we will be working with his colleagues in order to provide all the support they need.”

Aberdeenshire’s chief executive, Jim Savege, added: “My heartfelt condolences go out to everyone who knew George, who worked with him, and to his family who will be left devastated by this accident. We will do everything in our power to support them and are working with colleagues in the waste team at this emotionally difficult time.”

Commenting after the collision, Sergeant Colin Matheson of Police Scotland, said: “Our thoughts at this particularly sad time are with the family and friends of those involved.

“We have spoken to a number of witnesses already in order to help piece together exactly what has happened.

“I would urge anyone who may have seen either of the vehicles prior to the collision, or who saw the incident itself and who hasn’t yet come forward to do so as soon as possible.”