Family tells of crash death grief

Mark McGregor is being treated at Stirling Royal Infirmary

The family of a woman who was killed in a motorway crash at the beginning of a family holiday have spoken of their devastation at her death.

Doreen McGregor from Dalgety Bay, Fife, her husband Mark and their three children had been travelling to Dumfries on Sunday morning.

The couple's Ford Focus was struck by another car as it stood on the hard shoulder of the M80 near Falkirk.

They had pulled over to attend to their son Connor, seven, who was sick.

Mrs McGregor, 31, was killed instantly and her husband, also 31, remains in a critical condition in Stirling Royal Infirmary.

The oldest boy knows what has happened and is heartbroken but the two younger ones don't really understand Doreen Vaughn

He suffered two broken arms, a shattered kneecap and a broken ankle and has had a plate put into his shoulder.

He has also undergone surgery twice and may need further operations.

The children were kept in hospital overnight with concussion, cuts and bruises and released on Monday.

Mrs McGregor's mother, Doreen Vaughn, had been accompanying the family to the camping holiday in Dumfries. She was in another car which had gone on ahead.

She told the BBC Scotland news website: "We had tents in the car and we were supposed to be meeting at Beattock to fuel up.

"The wee boy (Connor) was feeling sick and they pulled over. Doreen and Mark got out of the car and were seeing to him when the other car came along."

'Heavily sedated'

Connor told his grandmother he saw the car coming towards them and told his father to watch out, but did not have time to warn his mother.

"He said his mum was lying with her head in the jaggies (nettles). He was all covered in scratches - he must have been pushed out of the way by his mother."

Mrs Vaughn, from Inverkeithing, added: "We're all totally devastated. The oldest boy knows what has happened and is heartbroken but the two younger ones don't really understand.

"When I saw Connor in hospital on Sunday night he said to me he was a hero because he thought he had saved his mum and dad's life.

"I spoke to Mark yesterday but I don't know if he fully took in what I was saying because he was heavily sedated.

"Doreen was so full of fun and was really outgoing - she lived for Mark and her children.

"She had a large circle of friends and one of them was getting married this weekend. Doreen, Mark and the kids were all meant to be going to it.

"Instead, I'm now having to organise her funeral.

"At this moment I don't know when that will be - we're waiting until Mark will be well enough to attend."

Central Scotland Police said a green Vauxhall Astra collided with the family's Ford Focus.

The 56-year-old driver of the Vauxhall Astra sustained slight injuries.

A police spokesperson said he was now the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal.

Police have appealed for anyone with any information about the incident to contact them on 01786 456000.