An elderly woman has died and another is said to be fighting for her life following a three-car crash on the outskirts of Glenrothes.
The women, who were aged 73 and 70, had to be airlifted to hospital by two separate air ambulances in the wake of the accident which happened on the A911 Glenrothes to Leven road on Saturday afternoon.
The 73-year-old driver of the Peugeot was flown to Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary but she passed away in hospital on Sunday morning.
The 70-year-old woman was flown to Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital suffering from serious and potentially life threatening injuries, while a 78-year-old man was also taken there with minor injuries.
Police said another 73-year-old woman was also taken to Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital suffering from serious injuries.
Emergency services were called at around 1.15pm to a report of a multi-vehicle collision involving a Honda Jazz, a Vauxhall Mokka and a Peugeot 2008 near to the blue over-bridge at a junction towards the Glenrothes end of the road – known locally as West Mill Road.
One eyewitness who saw the aftermath feared the worst, saying there was “not much left” of one of the vehicles involved.
Police immediately closed the route in both directions and two air ambulances joined ambulance paramedics and firefighters at the scene to help get the injured women out of their vehicles and to hospital as swiftly as possible.
A number of other occupants of the cars involved were treated at the scene for minor injuries and shock, although it is not thought any of those needed further hospital treatment.
The accident led to lengthy queues in the surrounding area and on the nearby A92 and drivers were told to avoid the area if possible.
Diversions were put in place via Markinch and drivers were turned around as the road ended up being closed for six-and-a-half hours as collision investigation work got under way.
Police have appealed for witnesses and anyone with information should contact 101 as soon as possible.
Sergeant Ewan Pearce from Fife’s Road Policing Unit said: “Tragically as a result of the collision a lady has lost her life and our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time.
“I would ask anyone who may have been travelling on the A911 at the time of the collision on Saturday afternoon and who witnessed what happened to come forward to assist our investigation.
“Anyone who may have dash-cam footage of the vehicles immediately prior to the collision, and has not yet spoken to officers, is asked to get in touch to provide this at their earliest opportunity.”
The crash was one of a number of incidents on Fife’s roads on Saturday, with another multi-vehicle accident causing problems on the A92 later that evening.
That collision took place between the Bankhead and Prestonhall roundabouts in Glenrothes and fortunately led to no injuries, although traffic was held up as debris was removed from the road.
And a driver also escaped serious injury on the A907 Carnock Road when their Fiat 500 ended up on its side at around 4pm on Saturday.
The incident took place near the Crossford junction and emergency services attended while the road was closed, but police said the driver involved was not injured.
