The death of a woman who was involved in a crash with a runaway digger, could have been avoided, public liability insurance holders have been told.
Christina Fraser,24, a beautician from Garstein, died from her injuries when she was hit by the 30-tonne machine, which had broken free from the lorry which was transporting it.
The digger was being moved from Umax, near Evanton to a quarry at Kindeace, when the accident happened in July 2006.
Sheriff David Sutherland yesterday said that the digger's brake was not working properly and the chains which were used to restrain it were "clearly inadequate".
"On any view, the tragic death of Christina Fraser was an accident which could so easily have been avoided. The driver had not carried out any risk assessment prior to transportation," he added.
The sheriff also recommended a tightening of rules on the transportation of heavy goods and compulsory training for drivers of such loads.