Italian driver denies causing five deaths in Moray
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An Italian man accused of killing five people – including his own young son – in a road accident near Keith is to stand trial.
Alfredo Ciociola (50) is accused of falling asleep at the wheel of a minibus on the A96 back in July 2018.
Amongst his passengers was his four-year-old son Lorenzo and Frances Patanè (63) who also died.
Edward Reid from Macduff was driving the other vehicle, a 4x4.
The 63-year-old local man died along with his two passengers – Evalyn Elrick (69) and Audrey Appleby (70) – who were both from Aberchirder.
Four other people were also hurt in the crash.
Mr Ciociola, who is from Sicily, appeared at the High Court in Glasgow today, where he denied causing five deaths and serious injury by dangerous driving.
He also pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving on the wrong side of the road.
Judge Lord Matthews fixed a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh for October.
