Tourists die in Reay road smash
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A THURSO-based police officer has offered his condolences to the families of two Italian tourists killed in a road accident near Reay on Saturday.
Emanuele Nico (44) and his girlfriend, Liana Pinotti (45), from Gavirate, died when their motorcycle was involved in a collision with a car at 1.10pm on the A836 Thurso to Reay road at Drumhollistan.
The couple had been enjoying a travelling holiday around Scotland with a group of motorcyclists when the accident happened.
Mr Nico worked for electrical manufacturers Whirlpool SPA in Varese and Miss Pinotti was an office worker at the justice department in Gavirate.
The couple had two sons, both 18 years old, from previous relationships.
Mr Nico was an enthusiastic biker and had travelled around Europe with Miss Pinotti and his friends.
He created his own website to display pictures of the journeys he had been on since 2005 called www.emanuelenico.com
Ambulance personnel attended at the crash but the couple were pronounced dead at the scene.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said the passengers in the car, believed to be local, were treated for minor injuries and shock at Caithness General Hospital in Wick.
The road remained closed for eight hours while an investigation was carried out by officers from Northern Constabulary’s road policing unit.
Constable Paul Kerr was called to the scene of the crash. “The road was closed for eight hours as police carried out investigations,” he told the Courier.
“The scene where the accident took place was reopened at 9pm. The stretch of the road is not known to be particularly dangerous. It has been a number of years since a road fatality in that area has happened.
“This was an unfortunate accident and our condolences go to the family of the couple.”
A spokesperson for the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service said two units from Thurso also attended the scene.
Police are appealing for the driver of a van which was travelling west and was overtaken by a motorcycle prior to the collision to get in touch.
Those with information are asked to contact Northern Constabulary on 01463 715555.
A report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal.
