The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Tragedy as man dies after fourvehicle crash on A9.
Fatal four-vehicle crash leads to plea for improved road safety steps
A man has died following a crash on one of Perthshire’s busiest roads.
Police, firefighters and paramedics were called to the A9 Perth to Inverness road, near the Blair Atholl turn-off, following a collision involving four vehicles, including an HGV, at about 12.50pm yesterday.
Two people were treated at the scene and police have confirmed that a man has died as a result of the crash.
The route was closed in both directions yesterday afternoon with drivers being told to “avoid” the stretch.
The accident has led to calls for improved traffic safety measures, including speed restrictions and static cameras. The stretch of road is a notorious accident blackspot with at least five crashes resulting in injuries in the last five years.
A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that a man has died as a result of a road traffic collision involving four vehicles on the A9 north of Pitlochry, near to the Blair Atholl turn-off, south of House of Bruar.”
Local councillor Xander McDade, Independent, said: “It is very sad, yet unsurprising, to hear of yet another accident on this stretch of road.
“Following other recent accidents on this stretch, Transport Scotland have used the excuse of future A9 dualling as a reason to not look at and implement improved road safety measures on the current road, which will be with us for years to come.
“There are sensible options that could be looked at that are in place on other major A roads, such as reduced speeds at major accident spots enforced by static speed cameras. How many more fatalities are we to see before Transport Scotland will act?”
Highland councillor John Duff, Conservative, said: “I am extremely sorry to hear there has been a further fatal collision on this stretch of the A9.
“I am certain that the authorities will conduct a full and thorough investigation into the circumstances and take any remedial action in terms of the findings.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said two appliances, one from Pitlochry and another from Dunkeld, were called to the scene. Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) also attended.
Statistics published in September revealed the worst accident blackspots on the A9, with the road having seen more than 30 major crashes in the last five years.
The figures covered incidents in which people suffered slight, serious or fatal injuries between April 2013 and March this year.
They included nine crashes at Dalnaspidal, seven on the east side of Blair Atholl, four accidents between Dowally and Dalguise, another four at Killiecrankie, where the dual carriageway becomes single, and four more at the House of Bruar junction.