Spate of crashes in black ice chaos
Three hurt after bus flips over
Published:
BLACK ice caused chaos today with a string of crashes as cars and a bus slid off North-east roads.
Grampian police said roads across the area were like “sheets of glass” as temperatures plunged to -2.5°C (28°F).
Police were called 26 times about accidents on North-east roads – including a Stagecoach bus which ended up on its side.
The vehicle slid off the road and ended up in a ditch.
Three people were taken to hospital with minor head and hand injuries after the accident which was between New Aberdour and New Pitsligo.
The driver, on the 251 Fraserburgh to Aberdeen service, was taken to Fraserburgh Hospital by ambulance to be treated for a cut hand.
Two passengers with minor injuries were also taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
A Stagecoach spokesman said: “The bus came off the road while coming down a hill and taking a left-hand bend.
“The roads were like glass and the bus couldn’t take the corner.
“There were only a couple of passengers on board as it was early in the morning and we have been told there were only minor injuries.”
Police and ambulance crews helped the two passengers after the bus left the unclassified road at 6.45am.
Fire crews also attended with two fire engines from Fraserburgh and one from Maud.
Firefighters then came across another car off the same road as they were leaving the scene at 7.30am. No one was hurt in the second accident.
In another accident in the area, three lorries got stuck on the unclassified road between Strichen and New Aberdour due to ice. One lorry had hit another at about 8.30am.
There were no reports of injuries.
A police spokeswoman said: “It was reported that the road was like a sheet of glass.
“A vehicle was coming off the road every 10 to 15 minutes.”
Police also dealt with another accident in which a car ended up on its roof.
Two people with suspected whiplash injuries were taken to ARI.
The crash happened north of Newburgh on the A975 Newburgh to Cruden Bay road at 8.23am.
The woman driver and her companion were not thought to have been seriously injured.
