Former Highland Council convener Sandy Park renews calls for Transport Scotland to investigate safety at junction following fatal crash on A96 near Auldearn in which 78-year-old driver died
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A former Highland Council convener is renewing his calls for investigations by Transport Scotland into the safety of a junction on the Auldearn bypass.
Road policing officers are appealing for witnesses following a fatal crash at the eastern entrance to the village from the A96.
The accident involved a collision between Mercedes car and a tractor at 5.05pm last Wednesday.
The 78-year-old driver of the car died though the driver of the tractor was uninjured.
Emergency services attended and the road was closed for more than eight hours, with traffic diverted.
Sandy Park, who lives in Auldearn, said: “I don’t know the circumstances of the accident and I wouldn’t wish to speculate, but that junction was poorly designed when the bypass was constructed nearly 30 years ago. I first raised this issue with Transport Scotland 15 years ago.
“There have been a number of accidents there.
“The junction at the western entrance from the A96 to the village has a chevron central reservation for traffic coming from the west and turning into the village.
“But there is no stacking lane at the next junction further east. If you want to turn into the village you have to sit on the middle of the road.”
Inquiries into the crash remain ongoing and anyone who was travelling in the area around the time in question is asked to come forward.
Sergeant Ewan Calder said: “At this time, our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased, following their tragic loss.
“As we continue our inquiries, we’d ask anyone with information or any potential dashcam footage to please come forward. If you were in the area or believe you may have seen either of the vehicles prior to the incident, you can speak with officers on 101, quoting incident 2255 of 12 January.”
Police appeal for information following fatal road crash
