man badly injured As three-vehicle smash closes road
Lorry driver killed in A9 tragedy
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The notorious A9 road claimed another life yesterday and left another man with serious injuries following a horrific crash involving three vehicles.
The tragedy prompted further calls for the Inverness to Perth route to be made completely dual carriageway.
The crash, which involved two articulated lorries and a goods van, happened at 11.20am two miles south of Kingussie.
It also involved a difficult and potentially dangerous rescue operation by the emergency services because the trucks ended up on a steep embankment. The driver of a south-bound articulated lorry from the agricultural feed company Harbro was cut free from the wreckage by firefighters and declared dead at the scene.
The driver of the north-bound Edmundson Electrical goods van was flown by ambulance helicopter to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness with serious injuries. The driver of the other articulated lorry was uninjured. Police said all three drivers were male.
The accident happened immediately before the start of a climbing lane section in the road where it effectively becomes dual to vehicles heading south.
All three vehicles ended up on an embankment at the side of the south-bound carriage of the road.
Around 15 police officers and 20 fire officers were in attendance following the immediate response by officers at Aviemore Police Station. Three traffic wardens also assisted with diverting traffic away from the accident spot via the old A9 via Kingussie. The road was reopened last night. Chief Inspector Donald Henderson, area commander for Badenoch and Strathspey said: “One casualty was taken by heli-med to Raigmore Hospital and tragically a second man died at the scene.”
He added: “At the time of the accident the conditions were dry and vision was good. Our sympathies go out to the family of the man who died. Inquiries to establish the cause of the accident are ongoing.”
Antony Gardner, incident operational commander and group manager for the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue service said units from Kingussie, Aviemore and Inverness attended.
He added: “We used specialist heavy moving equipment which would normally be used in major incidents such as collapsed buildings. We had to use this due to the nature of the vehicles involved. It was hard to work as the vehicles were on an embankment which meant we had to haul all the equipment up on to the embankment. It was quite a precarious and arduous operation. We had to stabilise the vehicles as there was also a chance they might topple.”
Local councillor Dave Fallows said: “All accidents wherever they happen have an effect on friends and families. Our condolences go out to the family affected by this one.”
Mr Fallows added: “There is no doubt the A9 would be safer if it was to be dualled from Inverness to Perth. We need to keep the pressure on to get it dualled.”
A spokesman for Harbro at Inverness last night said they did not wish to comment at that stage.
Northern Constabulary appealed for anyone who witnessed the collision to contact them on 01463 715555.
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