Mystery of car crash and homes left in darkness

ACCIDENT: A big flash of light in sky in Kinross-shire before loss of electricity

More than 400 homes and businesses were plunged into darkness across Kinross-shire as a vehicle veered off the M90 and crashed into a burn on the outskirts of Milnathort.

Witnesses saw a “big flash of light in the sky”, coming from the motorway, at around 7.55pm on Tuesday night as 405 properties, including a supermarket and Loch Leven Community Campus, momentarily lost electricity.

The power outage occurred at the same time police were called to a onevehicle collision on the M90 near the slip road when a car left the road before crashing down an embankment into a burn. The occupants then left the scene.

SSEN confirmed that the power outage could have been caused by the crash, though they had not been notified of the collision. A spokesperson said: “SSEN was alerted to a brief power outage (on Tuesday) night in Milnathort, this took place at 7.53pm and lasted for about a minute, affecting 405 customers in total.

“The outage was caused by an auto reclose of one of our safety breakers, protecting our network should any potential risks be detected to our infrastructure. Power was restored to all customers by 7.54pm.

“It (the crash) certainly could have caused it but it’s not something we can confirm as we’re not aware of it.”

Power outages were reported across a large area in the region including Kinross, Milnathort and Crook of Devon with many speculating about the cause of the large beam of light in the sky.

Motorists were forced to avoid two men in dark clothing walking along the motorway shortly after the crash.

Police Scotland confirmed that the occupants of the car were finally traced in the Stirling Road area of Milnathort. A spokesperson said: “The driver suffered minor injuries.”

“The outage was caused by an auto reclose of one of our safety breakers, protecting our network. SPOKESPERSON FOR SSEN

Loch Leven Campus lost electricity.