By Steven Bell

A 20-YEAR-OLD Perthshire man was killed when the car in which he was travelling left a country road near Dundee in the early hours of yesterday morning and ended up on its roof in a field.

The 19-year-old driver of the car sustained serious head injuries and he has been detained in Ninewells Hospital.

The dead man was named last night as Stuart Knowles from Alyth. The driver has not yet been named but is understood to also come from the town.

The two young men are believed to have been on their way home from Dundee when the tragedy struck.

The accident happened on the Dundee to Coupar Angus road, just over a mile west of Muirhead.

It is thought that the yellow Fiat Punto, which was travelling west, collided with a dry-stane dyke, crossed the carriageway and landed in the field.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident at around 3.45 am and police, ambulance and fire brigade crews attended.

Mr Knowles was pronounced dead at the scene.

The road was closed until shortly before 1 pm yesterday while accident investigators carried out a thorough search of the scene.

Inspector Nick Hull, head of road policing in Angus, yesterday ruled out the possibility that the two occupants may have lain in the overturned car for some time before they were discovered.

It is understood that a van driver came across the incident soon after it occurred and raised the alarm.

Inspector Hull added, “We are still looking for any witnesses who may have seen a yellow Fiat Punto motor car travelling between Dundee and Coupar Angus.”

Mr Knowles is understood to have lived with his parents Eddie and Helen in Alyth.

He is also survived by his sister Helen.

Last night his family were too upset to speak about the tragedy.

The condition of the car driver was not known last night.

However, earlier in the day his injuries were said to be “serious but not life threatening.”

Police have appealed for anyone with any information about the crash to come forward.

They are asked to contact 01382 223200, or speak to any officer.