A council worker jumped to safety moments before his van burst into flames following a crash on the edge of a Perthshire village.
The medical equipment vehicle was involved in a head-on smash on the A85 near Methven.
The NHS Tayside-branded vehicle, operated by Perth and Kinross Council, collided with a blue Vauxhall Agila which careered off the road, ploughed through a hedge and slid down an embankment.
The car’s female driver was taken by ambulance to Ninewells Hospital with a suspected broken leg.
The driver of the health service van escaped unharmed. He was checked at the roadside by paramedics and also taken to hospital as a precaution.
Fire crews were scrambled to the scene just after 10am and the route was completely closed for nearly two hours, causing major tailbacks and travel disruption.
Locals said billows of black smoke could be seen from as far away as Crieff.
Transport giant Stagecoach diverted its A85 service away from the closure zone.
Drivers were also advised to avoid the scene and prepare for lengthy detours.
By midday, a temporary traffic light system was put in place and one lane of the road was reopened.
The road was fully reopened at around 3.30pm, after both vehicles, which were left extensively damaged, were recovered.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Along with other emergency services, we attended at a two-vehicle road traffic collision a mile outside Methven on the A85 shortly after 10am this morning.
“One vehicle caught fire, however all occupants got out safely.
“The road was closed for a short time, and one person was taken to hospital with minor injuries.”
A fire service spokeswoman said two local crews were called to the crash.
“The fire in the van was put out using a hosereel jet,” she said.
“One breathing apparatus was used.”
A council spokesman said: “We can confirm that a council vehicle was involved in an accident on the A85
outside Methven this morning.
“The driver was taken to hospital, but it’s understood that he is uninjured.”
He added: “As with any accident involving a council vehicle, the
circumstances will be investigated.”
