Italian driver to stand trial over Moray crash deaths

Edward Reid, Audrey Appleby, Evalyn Collie and Frances Saliba Patanè died in the crash

An Italian driver accused of killing five people - including his young son - in a crash in Scotland is to stand trial later this year.

Alfredo Ciociola, 50, is accused of falling asleep at the wheel of a minibus that crashed into a 4x4 on the A96 near Keith, Moray, in July 2018.

His passengers Lorenzo Ciociola, aged four, and Frances Patanè, 63, died.

Driver Edward Reid, 63, Evalyn Elrick, 69, and Audrey Appleby, 70, died in the other vehicle.

Mr Reid was from Macduff, his two passengers were from Aberchirder. Four others were also hurt in the crash.

At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Lord Matthews fixed a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh for October.

Mr Ciociola, from Sicily, denies causing five deaths and serious injury by dangerous driving.

The charge further states that Mr Ciociola failed to pay proper attention, repeatedly braked and then drove his Fiant minibus on the wrong side of the road.