Man killed and 10 hurt in road crash

Published on Monday 30 November 2009 21:54

A VAN driver was killed and ten workmen injured in a collision between his vehicle and a minibus on the main Aberdeen to Inverness road in Moray yesterday.

The driver of the van, Dean Edwards, 20, from Elgin, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three people were taken to hospital with serious injuries after being freed from the wreckage of the minibus by firefighters.

Police, fire crews and six ambulances were called to the scene of the accident shortly after 7am yesterday on the A96 at Alves, midway between Elgin and Forres.

The road was closed in both directions for more than eight hours while investigators examined the scene.

The Ford Transit minibus was carrying ten workmen, employed by Morrison Construction, who were on their way to work at a flood alleviation construction scheme in Forres.

A spokesman for Grampian Police said all ten had been injured.

Inspector Scott Mann of Grampian Police Roads Policing Department said: "I would like to offer our condolences to the family of Mr Edwards and our thoughts go out to them.

"Our inquiries are still at a very early stage and I cannot comment on the cause of the collision at this time. A report will be submitted to the procurator-fiscal in Elgin."

Sergeant Chris Whelan of Grampian Police said: "Three vehicles were involved in the crash. One van was in a direct collision with the minibus and the other van driver had to take evasive action and went off the road.

"The minibus had ten people on board; three of these were seriously injured. However, their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

"There was a lot of damage to both vehicles. It could have been a lot worse than one fatality. It was quite a shocking scene."

The collision happened in the dark when the roads were damp. However, it is not thought likely it was weather-related.

When ambulance crews reached the scene, the van driver was in a critical condition. He died a short time after their arrival.

Forres councillor Jeff Hamilton described the scene of the accident as a straight but "very fast" stretch of road.

A spokeswoman for Morrison Construction confirmed that the workers in the minibus had been on their way to work in Forres.

She said: "We will be co-operating with the authorities to establish the precise circumstances that led to the accident. Our concern and thoughts are with the injured and their families."