The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Black ice may be to blame for head-on crash on rural road
Air ambulance and emergency services rush to collision between Dunkeld and Caputh
Black ice may have caused a head-on crash on a rural Perthshire road that left two people in hospital.
The collision happened on the A984 between Dunkeld and Caputh yesterday morning.
Both vehicles involved – a black Transit-style van and a white truck – were left extensively damaged.
Emergency services were scrambled to the scene just after 8am. Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance was also called in from its base at Perth Airport.
It is understood firefighters had to cut one motorist from his vehicle.
The stretch, known as the Old Military Road, was closed for around three hours, causing lengthy detours for Perth-bound travellers.
Police were unable to provide details of either victim, or the extent of their injuries.
Locals said that the carriageway was thick with ice at the time of the accident.
Local councillor Grant Laing, who travels on the A984 regularly, said: “I really hope nobody was seriously hurt here.
“I thought the condition of the road was absolutely horrific this morning.”
The SNP Strathtay councillor said: “I got up about 7.30am to take the dogs for a walk, and there was no frost on the car.
“By the time we got back to the car at about 8.15am, it was all frosted up.
“I was driving back at 50mph, but I could still feel the car getting away from me.”
He added: “It’s a reminder that conditions on the roads can get worse very quickly, even if it seems fine first thing in the morning.”
The accident happened about a mile from Caputh. The road was closed off at the edge of the village, with police redirecting traffic along the B9099.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We were called to reports of a twovehicle accident on the A984 at 8.10am.
“There were two casualties. One was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and the other to Perth Royal Infirmary.”
A fire service spokeswoman confirmed one crew attended to assist police.
A council gritter lorry also attended to treat the road while the vehicles were being recovered.
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It’s a reminder that conditions on the roads can get worse very quickly. COUNCILLOR GRANT LAING