Jill Pirrie: Man, 18, arrested over fatal collision

An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged with a number of road traffic offences following the fatal collision in which city nurse Jill Pirrie died.

Jill Pirrie. Picture: Contributed

He is expected to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

The development came after neighbours close to the scene where the 33-year-old was killed by a car involved in a police chase told how they were struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

SEE ALSO: £12,000 raised for family of Jill Pirrie

Floral tributes on Kingston Avenue. Picture: Neil Hanna

Dozens of floral tributes are continuing to line Edinburgh’s Kingston Avenue, where the collision happened at around 8pm last Thursday.

Sympathy cards have been placed in the windows of homes on the street, while other residents have displayed news articles in their windows.

Ms Pirrie had been walking home from her shift at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary when she was struck by a silver Ford Ka, at the street’s junction with Old Dalkeith Road.

One resident, who has lived in the area for more than 30 years, said: “More and more floral tributes just continue to be laid every day. It’s a tragedy, it is really is.

Floral tributes on Kingston Avenue. Picture: Neil Hanna

“None of us knew her personally, but I can’t help but feel sadness, and I keep wondering about her family.

“I’ve watched people driving past in cars and just stopping to have a little look at all the flowers. It’s a tragedy that’s touched the hearts of many.”

The car which struck Ms Pirrie was being pursued by police at the time.

Ms Pirrie was less than a mile from her home in Ravenswood Avenue, Craigmillar, where she had only recently moved with her five-year-old son, Matthew. He is currently being looked after by his father and other relatives.

Since her death, work colleagues have raised more than £12,000 for Ms Pirrie’s family on a GoFundMe page and have also opened a book of condolence at the ERI.

Among the floral tributes, tea lights have been lit.

A work colleague, named Denise, left a bunch of roses. She wrote: “Jill, I can’t believe I won’t hear your infectious giggle around work – your presence will be missed for a long, long time. I hope you realised how loved you are. Rest in peace, miss you already.”

Another, Emma, left flowers and wrote: “Jill, you were always full of laughter and had the greatest sense of humour. A funnier colleague I could not have asked for.”

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