Boy, four, among dead after horror minibus crash claims five lives
A FOUR-year-old boy has died along with four adults after a minibus carrying Italian tourists was involved in a horrific head-on crash with a 4x4 vehicle.
Police confirmed the Italian boy was among the dead, while five other people, including a child, were taken to hospital following the late-night smash in Moray on Thursday.
Three of those who lost their lives after the collision on the A96 between Huntly and Keith around 11.40pm had been passengers in a Nissan X-Trail 4x4. The other fatalities were the Italian boy and a woman who had been in the Fiat minibus.
Deputy head of road policing, Superintendent Louise Blakelock, said: ‘The dreadful scene faced by emergency responders was both distressing and extremely challenging for everyone involved.
‘Every loss of life on our roads is a tragedy, however, when so many are killed in one incident the impact on their families, their friends and our entire community is massive. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been involved or affected.’
The driver of the X-Trail, Morag Smith, 39, from Aberchirder, Banffshire, was yesterday being treated in hospital for serious injuries.
A family member said: ‘We are all just really struggling to come to terms with what happened.’
Two women, aged 69 and 70, and a 63-year-old man who had been travelling in the 4x4 died. It is thought they were all from the local area.
Police said the driver of the minibus, two adult passengers – a man and a woman – and a three-yearold child had been taken to hospital with a ‘variety of injuries’.
The woman was said to be in a critical condition at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, while the youngster had suffered minor injuries. Officers investigating the cause of the crash have appealed for dashcam footage.
Miss Blakelock added: ‘I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who made valiant attempts to save the casualties’ lives – their efforts cannot be underestimated.
‘I would also like to thank members of the public who came upon this terrible incident, who phoned emergency services and provided first aid and comfort.
‘We don’t know the relationship of the people in the Nissan and that’s part of the investigation but we think they were all friends.
‘An investigation is ongoing into the exact circumstances so it would be wrong for me to speculate further at this time, and I am unable to answer questions regarding details of what may have happened.
‘I would, however, ask anyone who was in the area last night and saw either vehicle in the lead-up to this incident to please contact the Police on 101.’
The road was closed for more than 12 hours while investigations were carried out.
Richard Lochhead, Nationalist MP for Moray, said: ‘This is a truly horrific accident that has shocked the community given that so many people use the A96 day-inday-out.
‘The A96 is the key route through Moray and anyone heading north from Aberdeen is likely to use this route.
‘It is one of Scotland’s busiest roads and a horrific accident of this nature with so many lives lost and people injured is difficult to take in.’
Douglas Ross, Tory MP for Moray, tweeted: ‘Terrible news this morning. Five people were killed on the A96 last night and another five injured. Our thoughts are with all affected at this time.’
A spokesman for the Italian Embassy in London said: ‘The Italian Consulate General in Edinburgh is working very closely with local authorities to assess the causes of the A96 accident and is providing all possible assistance to the Italian nationals involved in the car crash.’
‘Distressing and challenging’