Village sympathy for family of man killed in crash
THE shocked residents of a “tight-knit” village yesterday sent their condolences to the family of a man killed in a minibus crash. Ross Jones Barker, 59, was a passenger on the private minibus carrying a group from Newtongrange, Midlothian, to Kelso Racecourse in Roxburghshire when it overturned.
Many of those on the bus, who were aged between 24 and 75, are believed to be regulars at The Dean Tavern in Newtongrange.
The minibus overturned while travelling along the A6089 between Carfraemill and Gordon, near Lauder, Berwickshire, and ended up in a field next to the road.
No other vehicle is believed to have been involved in the crash, which happened at around 10.50am on Saturday.
Mr Barker, from Port Seton in East Lothian, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police Scotland said his devastated family were trying to come to terms with their loss.
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It is thought that he had only decided to join the trip at the last minute after a seat unexpectedly became available.
Twenty-three men were hurt and six remained in hospital with serious injuries last night but all were considered stable.
Prayers for those involved were said at Newtongrange Parish Church.
The Rev Malcolm Muir said: “There is a solemnity across the village at the moment. Yesterday a lot of people were in shock.
“Newtongrange is a tight-knit community, though it is also very inclusive of people who have moved to the area, and it has a very strong sense of identity.”
A message on the church’s Facebook page said: “We send our love and prayers to the family of the man who has lost his life and to those injured for a speedy recovery.”
Police investigations into the exact cause of the incident continued yesterday. Emergency services declared a major incident in the wake of the crash.
Off-duty NHS staff were asked to attend work, while four fire engines were sent to the scene.
Eight of the injured were taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, 14 were taken to Borders General Hospital on the outskirts of Melrose, and one was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
The A6089 reopened at around 9pm with the crashed bus removed from the scene. Chief Inspector Steven Duncan, of the Lothians and Scottish Borders Police Division, said: “This has been an outing among friends and associates which has turned into tragedy.
“Our sympathies are with Ross’s family, who have respectfully requested privacy during this terrible ordeal as they try to come to terms with their loss.
“Our thoughts also remain with all those injured and their families.”
In a Facebook message posted on Saturday, The Dean Tavern staff and management sent their condolences to those involved in the “horrific accident” and their families.
More than 80 people have left condolence messages on the post.
Staff at Kelso Racecourse also tweeted a message of support.
Neil Findlay, Labour MSP for Lothian, said two of his friends were among the first on the scene.
He tweeted: “Horrendous news about the Midlothian men whose minibus crashed on the way to the races at Kelso – my thoughts and prayers are with them and their families.
“Two of my pals were amongst the first on the scene and helped people out of wreckage – they said it was absolutely terrible to witness but they and others passers-by helped many people – God bless them all.”
