The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Three airlifted to hospital after latest in series of A9 accidents
CRASH: Two-car collision closes Perthshire stretch for two hours and sparks lengthy traffic tailbacks
An accident that saw three people flown to hospital with serious injuries forced the complete closure of the A9 in Highland Perthshire yesterday afternoon.
The route was shut between Calvine and House of Bruar for more than two hours following the two-car accident, which happened at around 12.50pm.
Two air ambulances were called to the scene, taking the accident victims to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
Emergency services said that the injuries suffered were serious but not life-threatening.
No further information was made available about the people involved.
Hundreds of cars were left backed up on the route between Perth and Inverness during the road closure and local diversions were put in place.
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 12.30pm to attend a road traffic collision on the A9 near Blair Atholl.
“We dispatched our special operations team, three ambulances, two managers and two helicopters to the scene.
“Local diversions were put in place where possible.”
Motorists were advised to take an alternative route at Dalnacardoch.
The road was partially reopened after 3pm and some of the queuing traffic was allowed through. It was fully opened about half an hour later.
The crash comes just a few weeks after a man died on the A9 from Perth to Stirling. A Mercedes E-class and an HGV collided before a Vauxhall Astra was also hit.
The A9, one of Scotland’s busiest stretches of road, claimed the life of another man late last month.
In that case the three-car crash also left five people injured.
Overall, the three incidents over the last four weeks have seen nine people seriously injured and two killed.
The A9, which has long been known for its high accident rate, already has average speed control cameras on the stretch between Dunblane and Inverness.
The cameras have led to a fall in both the accident and casualty rate, according to official statistics.
The stretch between Perth and Inverness is being converted to dual carriageway in a phased works programme.
rmaher@thecourier.co.uk