A lorry driver died when his brakes failed on a notorious section of the A9, a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) has heard.

Bruce Cormack was driving to Berriedale in Caithness when the crash happened on the A9 September 18, 2014.

Vans carrying ballot boxes to Dingwall were diverted as a result of the crash, delaying the count by 45 minutes.

The 41-year-old’s lorry went off the road while taking a sharp bend on the Braes and overturned, shedding its load across the carriageway.

Three drivers stopped to help Mr Cormack while they waited for the emergency services to arrive, but he later died.

Sheriff Andrew Berry said nothing could have been done to prevent the accident at the FAI in Wick.

In a written judgment, he said: “The descent and then ascent of the Berriedale Braes, whether travelling north or south, marks a truly exceptional stretch of roadway requiring great care to be exercised by any driver of any vehicle.

“It is not for the faint-hearted. I think that it can readily be said that this stretch of road is inherently dangerous.”

Vehicle examiner Ian Brown told Wick Sheriff Court the condition of Mr Cormack’s vehicle was “reasonably good” but found three of its six brakes were not working at the time of the crash.

Mr Cormack is not believed to have been aware of the problem.

Mr Berry said the nature of the crash indicated there had been a “sudden, multiple and catastrophic failure in the vehicle’s brakes”.

He concluded: “Had the failure in the vehicle’s brakes happened at a more forgiving location it might well be that the consequences of the accident would have been greatly reduced.

“Indeed, there might not have been an accident at all.”