Army veteran Ted Reid, 63 (pictured), was among the five victims of a horror car crash
Police have confirmed the names of the victims involved in the horror crash between a minibus and a 4×4 on the A96.
The crash in Moray, Scotland was just before midnight on Thursday and saw a Nissan X-Trail 4×4 colliding with a minibus.
Army veteran Ted Reid, 63, was travelling in the 4×4 along with Evalyn Collie, 69, and Audrey Appleby, 70.
All three victims were from Aberdeenshire, Scotland and members of the same country music club.
Frances Saliba Patanè, who was celebrating her 63rd birthday at the time, was also killed in the crash as was a four-year-old boy named Lorenzo Ciociola.
His parents are still being treated in hospital while a fourth family member, a three-year-old boy, was treated for minor injuries.
The family of Ted Reid paid tribute to him following the terrible tragedy.
They said: ‘We are heartbroken that Edward (Ted) was tragically taken from us on July 26. Ted was a devoted husband, dad, granda, brother and friend.
‘He will be remembered for his selfless loving nature and will be sorely missed by all. As a family we respectfully ask for privacy at this time.’
While the family of Evalyn Collie described her as a ‘beautiful lady and asked for time to grieve.
They said: ‘The family would like to thank the emergency services, members of the public and the others involved in helping at the scene in the early hours of Friday morning.
Mr Reid was a passenger in the 4×4 along with Evalyn Collie, 69 (pictured left) and Audrey Appleby, 70 (pictured right), who also died in the collision between the minibus and 4×4
‘We would also like to thank the Policeman and Family Liaison officer assigned to our family for the professional way they have conducted themselves and the help they have given to us at this difficult time.
‘We wish to pass on our condolences and deepest sympathy to all the families who lost family members in this horrific and tragic incident and hope those injured make a speedy and full recovery.
‘We have lost a beautiful lady, we now request that we are given the time and privacy to grieve and come to terms with our tragic loss.’
The Italian victims of the collision are all from Sicily and tributes have also been paid to them.
Frances Saliba Patane (pictured) was celebrating her 63rd birthday when she died in the collision
Frances Saliba Patanè said: ‘Frances was born and educated in Birzebbuga, Malta, before moving to Siracusa following her marriage to an Italian man. She was a loving wife and a caring mother and grandmother.
‘Frances was also highly respected for the passion and devotion she used in her job as an English teacher. She was in Scotland to celebrate her 63rd birthday, which tragically happened on the same day of the crash.
‘We would like to thank all the kind staff of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and other emergency services for their support.’
The family of four-year-old Lorenzo Ciociola said: ‘The Ciociola and Passanisi families have been devastated by the tragic and untimely death of little Lorenzo.
‘Although your life has been cut short you have filled our own lives with joy – now you are our little angel in heaven.
‘You will be forever close to our hearts and will continue to live on in the fond memory of your mum, dad and little brother Federico.
‘We would like to express our thanks to all emergency services and staff at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for their support.’
Bruno Mancuso, an Italian senator from Sicily, said Lorenzo’s father Alfredo was a coastguard officer and that their local community was in ‘deep grief’.
The fifth victim of the crash was four-year-old boy Lorenzo Ciociola – his parents are still being treated in hospital
He wrote on Facebook: ‘I am deeply saddened and dismayed by the tragedy that has struck lieutenant Alfredo Ciociola, commander of the maritime district office of Sant’Agata Militello, who in a tragic road accident in Scotland last Thursday, lost his four-year-old son.
‘His wife is in a coma. The whole of the community tightens up to him and his family and expresses pain and deep grief.’
The three people who died in the car lived in the local area and had been travelling back from a country music night in Elgin at the time of the crash.
The horrific crash took place just before midnight on Thursday night in Moray, Scotland
The driver of the car, named locally as Morag Smith, 39, from Aberchirder, Aberdeenshire, was seriously injured and is being treated at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
The four regularly attended a country night held once a fortnight by Elgin Country Music Club and had been at a performance on the night of the crash.
The club’s president Billy Main said: ‘They were just very nice people. You just can’t take it in, it’s unbelievable really.
‘It was a shock enough to hear about the crash and then you realise it’s people you know just going home.’
The driver of the car, named locally as Morag Smith, 39, was seriously injured and is being treated at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin
Friends and members of the club have posted messages of condolence and remembered the three as ‘really lovely people’.
The Italian Honorary Consulate in Aberdeen said it is supporting the families of the Italian citizens caught up in the tragedy.
A 33-year-old woman who was a passenger in the minibus remains in a critical condition in hospital.
The 45-year-old male driver also remains in hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries, along with a male passenger aged 70. The three-year-old continues to be well cared for after sustaining minor injuries.
Officers investigating the cause of the crash have appealed for any witnesses to come forward and for dashcam footage to be submitted to them.
Deputy Head of Road Policing Superintendent Louise Blakelock said: ‘This has been a difficult and distressing time for everyone affected by this tragedy and the sympathy expressed by communities over the past few days has been overwhelming.
The families of the victims have released emotional tributes to their loved ones following the crash
‘We have learned of countless individuals going above and beyond to provide assistance and comfort to those in need – from acts of bravery and compassion at the scene of the collision to invaluable support in the aftermath. On behalf of Police Scotland and our partners, a sincere thank you.’
She added: ‘Our investigation continues into the incident itself and once again I would appeal to anyone with information to get in touch. Particularly we are trying to verify the movements of each vehicle in the lead-up to the collision.
‘From our enquiries so far we believe the occupants of the white Fiat minibus had been travelling north through Scotland and were in the Tayside area around 6pm that evening. The occupants of the orange Nissan X-Trail had left an event in Elgin before heading south on the A96.
A 33-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the minibus, remains in a critical condition in hospital
‘I wish to appeal to any motorists with dash-cam footage who were on the A96 that evening around the time of the collision – regardless of whether you think you have captured the vehicles or not – to get in touch.
‘I would also like to thank everyone who has contacted us so far.
‘My thoughts and those of my colleagues in Police Scotland and our partners continue to be with everyone who has been affected by this tragedy, including the families involved and those who are recovering in hospital.’