Three killed in separate crashes

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

An elderly married couple died after a crash involving a car and bus in South Lanarkshire.

Jean McCallum, 72, and her husband Ronald, 73, were in a silver Honda Jazz when the collision happened near a garden centre at 1pm. Four ambulances were sent to the scene along with a Scottish Ambulance Service helicopter.

A stretch of the A72 Carlisle Road near Larkhall was closed while an accident investigation was carried out

The incident occurred near the Brookside Garden Centre in Lanark Road End. Mrs McCallum, who was the driver and lived in Hamilton, died at the scene.

Her husband was airlifted to the Southern General Hospital, in Glasgow, where he died a short time later.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: "Nobody on the bus was injured, but the driver of the bus was taken to hospital as a precaution.

"The lady died at the scene and the man died in hospital."

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: "Two patients were conveyed to hospital, one by the helicopter and one by a land crew."

About 17 firefighters in two fire engines and a heavy rescue vehicle from Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service were sent to the scene.

Cutting equipment was used to cut the couple from the car.

Meanwhile, in a separate accident, a cyclist was knocked down and killed on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

The unnamed 37-year-old victim was one of two cyclists involved in a collision with a vehicle in the Kirkliston area, in west Edinburgh.

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident, on the main road through the village.

A spokesman said: "We are unable to give any more details about the deceased until the next of kin have been informed.

"We are appealing for anyone who saw the accident to come forward."