The head chef of a popular Aberdeenshire hotel is still in critical condition after he was hit by a van.
Steve Westwood, head chef at the Newmachar Hotel, was walking along the A947 Aberdeen to Banff road at about 4.30am on Friday when he was struck by a white Mercedes van.
It is believed that he may have been struck by the vehicle’s wing mirror while on foot alongside the road.
Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, just north of the village, and took him to the city’s royal infirmary where doctors began treating him for serious head, chest and facial injuries.
The Press and Journal understands that he remains in an induced coma and is in a critical, but stable, condition.
The man driving the van was uninjured and the only visible damage to the vehicle was to the passenger side wing mirror.
Police closed the road for more than seven hours while they carried out inquiries and motorists were diverted via Pitmedden.
The route was reopened at noon that day.
It is not yet known what Mr Westwood had been doing on the stretch of road, where there is no pavement.
Both his family and staff at the hotel declined to comment.
However, one close relative posted an update on Mr Westwood’s condition on social media.
She wrote: “We are overwhelmed with everyone’s kind words.
“All the staff at the hospital are amazing
“Steve is stable and he is still in an induced coma for the time being.”
Police previously launched an investigation into the incident and have appealed for witnesses to contact them on 101.
