Fresh witness appeal in East Ross smash

TWO witnesses may hold the key to discovering what caused a serious A9 collision involving a police vehicle on a Ross-shire stretch of the A9 this week.

It was the first of two incidents involving emergency vehicles in Ross-shire in a 24-hour period.

Two people, a man and a woman both in their 50s, were airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on Monday after the black Mazda 3 they were travelling in was in collision with a marked police vehicle on the A9 near Delny.

Their injuries are described as "serious" but not thought to be life-threatening.

The male police officer, who was the sole occupant of the police vehicle, was taken to Raigmore in Inverness and later released. Both vehicles were travelling in a southbound direction when the 3pm accident happened.

Police, who have already spoken to a number of witnesses, renewed the appeal on Tuesday. They believe a driver who negotiated around the collision shortly after it happened, and a motorcyclist, may be able to assist the probe.

Road Policing Sergeant Ewan Calder said: "We have spoken to a number of witnesses, however we believe there are other motorists who were in the area immediately prior to and just after the collision and could have information that could assist us.

"In particular, we are keen to speak to a witness who was driving a motorbike and another witness driving a car who negotiated around the collision shortly after it occurred.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact us on 101 quoting incident 2528."

Police Scotland has referred the matter to the PIRC as is standard procedure.

Police also this week attended a road traffic collision at Munlochy on the Black Isle on Tuesday involving an ambulance and a van.

The accident happened at around 9.40am at Rhives near Munlochy at around 9.35am. The driver of the van, a white Peugeot, sustained what police described as "non life-threatening injuries". The van driver was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness as a precaution.

The two ambulance staff were uninjured. There were no other occupants in either vehicle.

Police, fire and ambulance crews all attended. The van driver was cut free from his vehicle before being taken to hospital.

An ambulance spokesman said: "Responding to a call-out, an ambulance was involved in a collision with another vehicle at Munlochy on the Black Isle.

"There were no injuries to the ambulance crew and the driver of the other vehicle was transported to Raigmore Hospital by road.

"A separate emergency crew had at that point already arrived on scene at Munlochy and we ensured the call was adequately resourced."