Jane Candlish
A man was killed on the A9 Inverness-Perth road yesterday – the first serious accident since the average speed cameras have been in operation.
The smash involved a Vauxhall Corsa and a DAF lorry at a layby on the northbound dual carriageway one mile north of Ballinluig at 7.50am.
An air ambulance was sent to the scene but the victim, the driver of the Vauxhall, is understood to have been pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said that the driver of the lorry was shocked but uninjured.
The northbound road was shut for several hours after the accident for police to carry out their investigations.
Local diversions were in place for northbound traffic and the route reopened at around 2pm.
Average speed cameras installed on single carriageway sections of the road were switched on last week. They are aimed at cutting the death toll on the A9, which is notorious for its high number of serious accidents.
Meanwhile, a man was taken to hospital after a crash on a Highland road yesterday.
His Fiat van ended up on its side in the accident, which happened on the A938 Blackmount-Carrbridge road at 7am.
Police and retained firefighters from Carrbridge and Aviemore were sent to the scene.
Although the driver was out of the vehicle by the time they arrived, they gave him oxygen and made the scene safe.
A third crew from Grantown was also called out but were not required.
An ambulance spokeswoman said that paramedics took one man to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness with minor injuries.
Debris was scattered across the road after the accident, including a fishing rod and camping gear.
The busy road, which leads to the A9 Inverness-Perth, was closed in both directions for around an hour, forcing many commuters to use an alternative route.