On Thursday night, a minibus carrying Italian tourists collided with a car in the northeastern region of Scotland.
Five persons were killed in a collision between a car and a minibus on the A96 in the northeastern region of Scotland, including a four-year-old Italian youngster.
According to Police Scotland, the small child and a woman were among the victims of the white Fiat minibus, which was transporting a party of Italian tourists.
Three people were also slain in the Nissan X-Trail car: a 63-year-old man and two ladies, ages 69 and 70.
Huntly and Keith collided in Moray just before midnight on Thursday, sending five other people—including a three-year-old Italian boy—to the hospital for treatment.
According to police, a three-year-old boy, two adult passengers—a man and a woman—and the minibus’s driver were all transported to the hospital with “a variety of injuries.”
The three-year-old sustained minor injuries, and the woman is reportedly in critical condition at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
According to the authorities, the four passengers in the X-Trail were locals.
“I want to take this occasion to express my gratitude to everyone who bravely tried to save the lives of the casualties; their efforts are not to be undervalued.
Additionally, I want to express my gratitude to the public members who witnessed this horrible event, called emergency services, and offered consolation and first aid.
Every fatality on our roadways is tragic, but when so many people are murdered in a single incident, the toll on their friends, family, and the community as a whole is enormous. We are thinking about everyone who has been impacted or participated.
Officers have called for any witnesses or dashcam footage as they look into what caused the collision.
Earlier, Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said the A96 was one of Scotland’s busiest roads and the loss of life was “difficult to take in”.
He said: “This is a truly horrific accident that has shocked the community given that so many people use the A96 day-in-day-out.
“The fact that there are so many casualties has been difficult for people to take in and with such a loss of life everyone’s thoughts are with those affected and their loved ones and friends at this difficult time.
“I pay tribute to the emergency services who dealt with what was a major road traffic accident.
“The A96 is the key route through Moray and anyone heading north from Aberdeen is likely to use this route.
“It’s one of Scotland’s busiest roads and a horrific accident of this nature with so many lives lost and people injured is difficult to take in.”
Moray MP Douglas Ross tweeted: “Terrible news this morning. Five people were killed on the A96 last night and another five injured.
“Our thoughts are with all affected at this time.”
A section of the A96 remains closed with local diversions in place.
Right Rev Susan Brown, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said: “What can you say, when in a split second your world collapses?
“Our hearts go out to those killed and injured in the Moray road accident.”
