A toddler is in a serious condition following a crash in which a man died and a woman had to be airlifted to hospital.
Two other people were also hurt in the collision on the A96 Inverness to Aberdeen road, just east of Elgin, at about 10am.
UPDATE: Police name man killed in A96 crash
It involved a black VW Golf travelling towards Elgin and a black Vauxhall Astra travelling towards Lhanbryde.
The 23-year-old man, who was a passenger in the Astra, died at the scene.
A female passenger, also 23, was airlifted by the coastguard to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with serious injuries.
The seriously injured two-year-old boy was taken to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin along with the 23-year-old female driver of the car – believed to be his mother – who was not badly hurt.
The 66-year-old driver of the Golf was also taken to Dr Gray’s.
Emergency services arrived at the scene a short time later and closed the road for several hours.
Witnesses reported that paramedics and the public battled to revive the 23-year-old however he could not be saved.
One member of the public, who arrived minutes after the crash, said: “Everyone in their cars rushed to the scene to help out. People were trying to resuscitate someone on the ground.”
Three ambulances, a paramedic response unit, a special operations response team, British Association of Immediate Care Scotland responders and an officer were all needed at the scene.
Inverurie-based road policing Sergeant Steve Manson said: “It’s a tragic thing when any death happens on the road.”
He added: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man who has sadly died as a result of today’s collision.
“Our inquiries into the circumstances of the collision are ongoing and I would like to appeal to anyone who has vital information to get in touch, if they haven’t already done so.”
Debris could be seen strewn across the road surface and a lorry – which was not involved – had also stopped on scene.
Crash scene investigators spent most of the day examining the scene for clues as to what had led to the tragic incident.
Barriers were put in place at the roundabout by Reiket Lane and at the junction with the B9103 road.
Diverted lorries, buses and tractors could be seen edging past each other on the narrow roads to the east of Elgin, either side of the A96, while large vehicles turning out of a narrow bridge over the River Lossie caused some minor disruption.
The road was reopened at 6.15pm.
Anyone who has information should contact police on 101.
