Police have charged a man after a G4S prisoner van crashed on a north-east road while transporting an inmate to court.
The prisoner and three security staff were taken to hospital after their secure van overturned on the A952 Fraserburgh to Mintlaw road, just south of the Cortes junction.
Emergency services closed off the carriageway, which was blocked by the large vehicle, and traffic was diverted on to the A90
Fraserburgh to Peterhead road while the van was removed.
In the wake of the crash – which happened on Tuesday, October 20 – local residents warned that it was only a matter of time before someone was killed or seriously injured at the notorious collision black spot.
Now officers have confirmed a man has been charged in connection with the incident.
A police spokeswoman said last night: “A 49-year-old man has been charged in relation to the incident and reported to the procurator fiscal.”
The incident happened at around 8.30am while three members of G4S staff were transporting a custody from Fraserburgh police station to Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
The van was travelling southbound on the A952 when it overturned near Cortes kennels. All four occupants of the vehicle were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by ambulance.
An officer at the scene said the driver – who was employed by the security firm – suffered hand injuries, while the prisoner had complained of a “sore back”.
The route was closed in both directions for more than three hours while police carried out a forensic investigation of the scene.
Following the incident, Cortes kennel and cattery manager Deanna Wharton raised serious concerns about road safety generally on the route outside her home.
She said: “I think we’ve been very, very luck. But now cars are getting faster and drivers are getting more aggressive – I would not be surprised if there are fatalities.”
Earlier this year, a young driver ploughed through her front garden, and Ms Wharton said she was not surprised to hear there had been another crash, warning strangers to the area were most at risk.