Four people killed in two crashes on day of carnage on Scotland's roads

Four people were killed in two separate accidents on Scotland's roads yesterday.

Three died and a fourth person was seriously injured in a four-car pile-up described by the emergency services as "a scene of carnage" on the A9 in Perthshire yesterday.

Another motorist was killed in Polmont, Stirlingshire, when his car collided with a lorry on a busy roundabout during the morning rush-hour.

The head-on crash on the A9 happened when one car drifted from the southbound carriageway and collided with a line of traffic heading in the opposite direction near Pitlochry.

The accident occurred on a single-carriageway stretch of the busy route, about a mile north of the Killiecrankie turn-off, shortly before noon.

The driver of the southbound Volvo S80, which crossed the central line, was killed instantly when his vehicle crashed into an oncoming Renault Clio and Vauxhall Astra.

Both of the occupants of the Astra, a 73-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman, were also pronounced dead by medics who arrived at the scene.

After the initial impact, the Renault Clio was thrown into the southbound carriageway, where it collided with a Ford Fiesta heading in the direction of Perth.

The female driver of the Clio suffered multiple injuries and was airlifted to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, where her condition was described as serious but stable. The 28-year-old male driver of the Ford Fiesta escaped injury.

Officers from Tayside Police closed the A9 in both directions to allow crash investigators to examine the scene and local diversions were put in place.

The road remained closed for several hours, causing significant tailbacks.

A spokesman for Tayside Fire Brigade confirmed that several units attended the scene and described what they found upon arrival as "carnage".

"At 12:04, Tayside Fire and Rescue received a call from the Scottish Ambulance Service informing us of a serious road traffic collision on the A9, approximately half a mile north of Pitlochry.

"Crews were quickly on the scene and were faced with a scene of carnage, involving four vehicles and multiple persons trapped. Following an assessment of the situation, fire and rescue resources were deployed to isolate the vehicle electrical systems and deploy the necessary extinguishing media to reduce the risk of fire, whilst their colleagues provided the necessary assistance to the casualties.

"Four persons were trapped in their vehicles and were released by firefighters using hydraulic cutting and spreading equipment. Sadly, despite the best endeavours by all the emergency services three people died and one was airlifted to Ninewells Hospital suffering from serious injuries."

The spokesman said driving conditions had been hampered by heavy rain and the spray being thrown up from the road surface.

Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart last night expressed his sympathy for the families of those involved in the crash.

Mr Wishart said: "My heart goes out to the families of those who have died in this awful accident. They have my deepest sympathy.

"I understand that investigations are ongoing into the cause of the collisions, but this sad incident underlines how important it is that we continue to do all that we can to improve safety on this very busy road."

The victim of the fatal crash in Polmont was understood to have been a taxi driver. The 57-year-old was killed when his yellow Peugeot people-carrier collided with the lorry on the Lathallan Roundabout on the outskirts of the town. He was taken to Stirling Royal Infirmary, but later pronounced dead.

The accident occurred at 8:35am as dozens of drivers in the area travelled to work.

The 28-year-old driver of the lorry was uninjured.

Part of the roundabout was closed for more than five hours to allow inquiries to be carried out, and a report will be sent to the procurator-fiscal.