A woman has died following a high-impact two-car crash on the north’s busiest road.
Emergency services were called to the scene of the collision yesterday on the A9 Inverness-Perth road at Dalwhinnie at about 10.40am. Police said that more cars were involved in a smaller collision after other drivers were forced to brake.
The road was closed for more than six hours as crash scene investigators carried out their work.
Local diversions were put in place via Dalwhinnie – but queues of cars and lorries stretched back for at least a mile in both directions. About 20 lorries on both sides had to wait until the road re-opened as they were unable to turn round.
And following the crash, traffic was moving slowly on the A9 southbound between the B9150 junction in Newtonmore and the A889 junction in Dalwhinnie.
Police said that a female driver, who is yet to be named, was killed at the scene, and that two adults and two children in the other car received treatment for “non life-threatening injuries.”
An air ambulance was called to the scene along with two road ambulances, but specific details of injuries were unknown last night.
Police said that the deceased was travelling north and was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
It is understood the other car involved was heading south at the time.
Three fire appliances – one each from Kingussie, Netwonmore and Aviemore – were called to the scene and firefighters used cutting tools to free occupants.
Yesterday a police spokeswoman said: “Sadly, a woman has died following a serious road traffic collision on the A9 at Dalwhinnie.
“The identity of the woman won’t be released until next of kin are fully informed.
“Drivers are thanked for their patience during the closure and asked to contact police on 101 if they have any information to assist the investigation.”
Yesterday at the scene, a black Mazda 6 could be seen sitting in the northbound carriageway just before it was taken away by a vehicle recovery unit. The front of the car was severely damaged and the driver’s side door had been cut away.
A grey Vauxhall Astra Estate had crossed the barrier on the opposite side of the road and finished on a grass embankment facing inwards towards the road. The bonnet of the car bonnet was badly crumpled and the windscreen had been smashed.
There was little debris visible on the road but sand had been laid down on top of oil patches that had spilled from the vehicles.
Residents in cottages at Cuaich, directly opposite the crash scene, said that they heard a “loud bang” at the time of the accident and, sadly, saw many cars driving up onto the grass verge to get past in the minutes afterwards.
It is understood that this is the fourth fatal accident at the same spot on the A9.
Badenoch and Strathspey councillor Bill Lobban said: “It’s yet another tragic event on the A9 which is very sad for everyone concerned, especially family and friends of the deceased. The sooner the A9 is dualled from top to bottom, the better.”
