Man and child are killed in A9 crash

Published on Saturday 19 July 2008 19:36

A MAN and a child died yesterday in a horrific four-vehicle accident on one of Scotland's busiest roads.

The crash happened on the A9 Perth to Inverness road, south of Dalwhinnie in the Highlands, at around 9.25am.

Northern Constabulary said another adult and child had been injured in the accident, which involved a car, two vans and a 4x4 towing a caravan.

The injured were taken by ambulance to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

The two who died are believed to have been travelling in the same vehicle.

A Northern Constabulary spokeswoman said the child had been pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

The man was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital, where he later died. Neither victim is thought to be from the Highlands.

A spokeswoman for Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service said rescuers had used cutting equipment to free one of the casualties.

The road was closed to allow accident investigators to examine the scene.

The fatalities follow the release of statistics showing that the number of people killed or seriously injured on Scotland's roads has fallen to its lowest level in more than 50 years.

The figures reveal that 282 people died in road accidents last year, 10% fewer than in 2006.

Child casualties also fell to their lowest in more than a decade, with nine youngsters losing their lives.

Campaigners claim, however, that the A9 between Perth and Inverness remains a trouble spot.