A crash involving a police car in which an elderly man was seriously injured is to be probed by the police watchdog.
The 87-year-old remains in a critical condition fighting for his life following the smash in Kirkcaldy on Friday evening.
Two police officers and a 51-year-old woman in another car were also taken to hospital with minor injuries but have since been discharged.
The marked police car was responding to an emergency under blue light when it collided with the man’s red Kia Cerato, which in turn struck a white Audi TT, shortly before 5pm on Oriel Road.
Due to the involvement of police, the incident has been referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.
Police have also appealed for witnesses to the incident, near the junction with Strathallan Drive, and want to hear from drivers with dashcam footage of the incident.
The 40mph limit road, a main route into Kirkcaldy town centre from the A92, was closed for several hours following the smash.
Sergeant David Ross, of the road policing unit, said: “It would’ve been a busy time for commuters and we’re appealing for anyone who might’ve witnessed this incident to contact us.
“I would ask people to check their dash-cam footage.”
The man was rushed to Ninewells Hospital, in Dundee, after being freed from the wreckage of his car on Friday evening. It is understood he had been visiting relatives who live near Oriel Road and has suffered multiple injuries, including a broken leg and broken jaw.
Firefighters also cut casualties free from the other vehicles before they were transferred to the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.
The woman and both the driver and passenger of the police car were taken to Victoria Hospital, in Kirkcaldy.
It is standard procedure for incidents where a person is seriously injured in contact with the police to be referred to the PIRC.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Police Scotland by calling 101 and quoting incident number 2961 of March 8.
