The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Gridlock on the A9:
Driver cut free from vehicle by firefighters
Scotland was hit by more traffic chaos last night after a lorry overturned in treacherous conditions on the A9. The driver had to be cut free from his vehicle before he could be rushed to hospital. Long tailbacks soon built up after the accident in snowy conditions near Pitlochry.
One of Tayside’s busiest roads was thrown into chaos last night after a lorry overturned in the snow and the driver was rushed to hospital.
The northbound A9 near Pitlochry was closed from around 4.30pm until late into the evening, with the entire road having to be shut at one point while the lorry was being removed, causing long tailbacks.
The driver was freed from the vehicle by firefighters, who used cutting gear to remove the windscreen, and was taken to Ninewells Hospital with minor injuries.
The HGV articulated lorry had been transporting timber and shed its load during the incident, adding to the chaos.
It is understood a second lorry also became stuck in the queuing traffic.
A police spokesman said: “We were called to the A9 where a lorry had fallen on its side.
“It was an articulated lorry, on the central reservation one mile north of Pitlochry and was initially on the southbound carriageway.
“The driver was trapped within the lorry but the fire service attended and he was rescued.
“The lorry shed its load and the northbound carriageway was completely blocked.
“There was a diversion in place for small vehicles and vans, which were directed through the A94 at Killiecrankie and then back on the A9 at Blair Atholl.
“But all heavy vehicles were stacked up.”
Traffic Scotland advised motorists to avoid the area and BEAR Scotland gritted around the vehicle to get it going.
The lorry shed its load and the northbound carriageway was completely blocked.
POLICE SPOKESMAN