Perth-inverness section of A9 claims 13th victim in five months

A 13th person has died on a notorious stretch of the A9 between Perth and Inverness since July this year.

Claire Wilson, from Dunfermline, was killed in a crash between Luncarty and Bankfoot on Thursday night.

The 55-year-old was the sole occupant of the white Mini Cooper involved in the crash which closed a stretch of the road from around 9.30pm to 2.30am.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The road was closed northbound for several hours for police investigations, opening at 2.30am on Friday.

Police have launched an appeal for information.

Sergeant Gordon Dickson said: “Our thoughts are with Claire’s family and friends at this difficult time.

“Our inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances which led to this collision and I

would urge anyone with information who has not yet spoken to police to come forward.”

Ms Wilson’s family is the 13th to lose a loved one on the A9 Perth to Inverness road in the last five months.

It is thought pushing forward with plans to dual the road would help prevent this number from rising further.

Current plans state the

A9 dualling will be completed by 2025. However, only two of the 11 sections have been completed so far.

Calls have been made for the Scottish Government to revise its timeline.

Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth said she has met police in recent weeks to “better understand the increase in fatal accidents and the underlying contributing factors”.

Following the deaths in recent months, Ms Gilruth said earlier this month she would be meeting with constituency and regional members to discuss their concerns.

She then intends to announce short-term measures to roll out until dualling can be completed.

Opposition members have criticised the repeated delays.

Last month when the death toll reached 12, MSP Murdo Fraser called for urgent action.

Claire Wilson.