A pedestrian who was knocked down by a car in a Highland village early on new year’s day remained in a “critical” condition in hospital yesterday.
Police confirmed that the man had been taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment following the serious accident on the Black Isle.
Emergency services were called to the village of Avoch at 5am on Sunday following reports that a pedestrian and a vehicle had been involved in a collision.
Horrified onlookers reportedly waited with the seriously injured man until an ambulance arrived at the scene.
The accident happened on Station Road, the main route through the village, and police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.
Officers closed the A832 Tore-Cromarty road for about eight hours on new year’s day while investigations were carried out.
A white Ford Fiesta with a dent in the windscreen could be seen in the morning in a layby off the road and inside the police cordon, near the back of the village primary school.
A spokeswoman for the force said yesterday: “The person is still in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and in a critical condition.”
The incident led to new year events being cancelled in the village, including Avoch Community Rowing Club’s “New Year’s Day with the Skiffties”, which was due to feature a dip in the sea and a bonfire.
The road is the main route through the Black Isle, and diversions of several miles were put in place for motorists throughout the morning on Sunday.
It was the second accident on the area’s roads over Hogmanay and new year, with firefighters having to cut a person free from their vehicle after a three-car crash at Muir of Ord on Saturday.
The incident happened shortly before 1pm, just outside the village, on the A862 route to Conon Bridge.
The road was closed in both directions and motorists experienced serious delays in the area.
