A north-east community is in shock after a 19-year-old man was killed instantly in a car crash that left his sister and three other teenagers in hospital.
The victim, named locally as farm worker William Sangster, from Auchnagatt, was a passenger in a red Ford Fiesta that left the road near Mintlaw and smashed into a tree on Saturday night.
The 17-year-old driver of the car was last night recovering from his injuries with two 17-year-old females and an 18-year-old man also receiving hospital treatment.
One of the injured passengers was Nicole Sangster, believed to be Mr Sangster’s sister.
She, alongside the rest of Mr Sangster’s family have paid a touching tribute.
It is understood that the victim is the stepson of an oil worker who is based between Aberdeen and Denmark.
Auchnagatt councillor Jim Ingram said the accident was a blow for all the families involved.
He said: “It’s a disaster for every family involved, especially for those that have lost the lad.
“All you can say is that your heart goes out to them and your thoughts are with them. It’s a sad time of the year for a lot of people anyway, but especially for them now.
“I’m not aware of that being a really bad section of road, but there are the trees, the shadows and the wet. I think it was quite damp last night too.
“It’s very sad. It couldn’t happen at a worse time of the year in the lead up to Christmas.”
Police said Mr Sangster died at the scene.
It is understood he lived at Auchnagatt with his mother Tracey Marshall, a nurse, and his stepfather Paul, who works for oil firm Welltec.
No other vehicles were involved in the incident, which took place on the A950 Station Road between Peterhead and New Pitsligo around 8.50pm.
David Kemp, 52, who lives nearby the access road to Auchnagatt, said he had heard a bang outside around the time of the crash.
He added: “The 30mph limit ends just at our road here, it probably needs to go further back. Quite often folk will come really fast before noticing the 30.”
Another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said he heard a “massive bang” while he and his family were watching the X Factor.
Friends of the teen have since taken to social media to pay their tributes.
One said: “Such sad news today. Heaven has gained an angel, sleep tight William Sangster.”
Another added: “Still don’t seem real, such a big loss to so many people, won’t be the same without that smile and laugh, thoughts go out to your family.”
It is understood that Mr Sangster had attended school in Crimond as a child before moving to Auchnagatt and working on a farm.
Witnesses to the crash are being asked by the police to come forward with whatever information they have.
Meanwhile, an Aberdeenshire road was closed for more than two hours at the weekend following a three-vehicle collision.
The accident happened on the A90 Aberdeen to Peterhead road at Bogbrae around 7.30am on Saturday.
A stretch of the route was closed between Toll of Birness and Hatton while officers worked at the scene to clear the debris.
A police spokesman said the motorists involved in the pile-up, who had been driving a green Vauxhall Astra, a white Ford Transit van and a white Volkswagen Golf, suffered only minor injuries.
The road re-opened around 9.30am.