Head-on crash prompts new calls for road to become dual carriageway
Woman dies at A9 accident blackspot
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An elderly woman was killed in a collision yesterday on the notorious A9.
Two other people were last night in hospital with serious injuries following a head-on crash.
The accident prompted further calls for the Inverness to Perth route to be made completely dual carriageway.
The two-car crash, between a Honda Jazz and a Vauxhall Vectra, happened at 2.10pm, two miles south of Kingussie at Nuide straight.
An elderly woman, who was in the Honda, had to be cut free from the wreckage by firefighters and was declared dead at the scene.
No further details will be issued until all next of kin have been informed, although it is believed that she is not local.
A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
A man was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, with chest and leg injuries, while another woman was taken by ambulance.
Police described their injuries as serious, but not thought to be life threatening.
The accident happened immediately before the start of a climbing lane section in the road where it effectively becomes dual to the south.
The road was closed for more than five hours while Northern Constabulary’s road policing section carried out a full investigation. Traffic was diverted via Newtonmore and Kingussie.
A spokeswoman for Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Newtonmore, Aviemore, Kingussie and Inverness attended.
She said: “Crews used cutting gear to release one trapped casualty and unfortunately one fatality.”
Last night local councillor Gregor Rimell described the section of the road as a “accident blackspot”.
He added: “This is no longer a busy dangerous piece of road, it’s a killer road.
“There is no wonder that accidents happen in the summer time when tourists, especially continental tourists, have to cope with single-track carriageway, two plus one carriageway, dual carriageway and if they go off the A9 single-track roads.
“There is no consistency and there needs to be when you are driving on a road. You can’t have consistency when your driving on a road where there are so many variables.”
In July, a man died following a crash involving two articulated lorries and a goods van.
Options for how best to dual the A9 will emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review which is expected to be reported to ministers shortly.
