A man was seriously injured after his van crashed into a tree on a quiet north-east road.
The motorist was driving a white Ford Transit van on an unclassified road north of the village of Cuminestown at around 9.45am yesterday when he collided with a roadside tree.
Emergency crews were called to the scene and fire fighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to free the man from his vehicle. He was then airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary(ARI).
It is understood his injuries are serious but not life-threatening.
A spokeswoman for the police said: “Officers from the traffic unit were called to a one-vehicle collision. One person was involved and suffered serious but not life-threatening or life-changing injuries.”
A fire brigade spokesman added: “Our officers helped to make the scene safe and to convey the casualty to paramedics.”
The road, which is often used to bypass the nearby village, has a long straight section which is lined with trees. It was closed to traffic while the driver was cut free from the van and reopened at 1pm.
A witness at the scene said fire crews had to cut open the back panel of the cab from inside the van. The air ambulance then set down in a nearby field to collect the driver.
Brian Ball said: “The accident happened on the lower road going past Cuminestown – it runs from New Byth towards Turriff.
“The white van came across the ditch and hit a huge tree on the side of the road. I think parts of the tree pierced the cab. The air ambulance has just landed and the firemen are cutting open the back panel of the cab from inside the van.”
It is understood the vehicle was transporting meat at the time of the crash.
