The A9 has claimed a second life in just 24 hours, following the death of a female motorist on Friday evening.
The woman was at the wheel when her car was involved in an horrific collision with a second vehicle in Highland Perthshire.
Police Scotland said the driver of the other car had escaped serious injury, though it is understood they are still being treated in hospital.
Officers are understood to be attempting to make contact with the victim’s family and she has not been identified.
On Thursday, a man died following a three-vehicle accident on the A9 south of Perth.
The 25-year-old was involved in a crash near to the Kier Roundabout, south of Dunblane.
The latest accident saw two cars collide at Kindallachan, around a mile south of Ballinluig services, at around 4.40pm on Friday.
The seriousness of the accident was immediately apparent, with the two vehicles sustaining serious damage following a shuddering collision.
Emergency services were scrambled to the scene from across Perthshire, with medical teams among the first to arrive.
An air ambulance was called to attend but was stood down shortly afterwards as the nature of the injuries became clear.
While police and medical teams worked at the scene, the A9 was closed between Ballinluig and Dunkeld, causing lengthy delays for other road users – many unaware of the tragedy ahead.
Diversion routes were available, but significant queues nonetheless built up and those alternative routes were soon gridlocked too.
The diversions saw many vehicles, including HGVs, having to make use of back roads and delays of around two hours were common.
The A9 was able to reopen after around four hours.
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “There was sadly one female fatality following Friday evening’s accident.
“The driver of the other vehicle was not seriously injured.”
