A woman was trapped in a burning car in a serious accident near Auchterarder at the weekend.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze in the engine compartment before using cutting equipment to free the victim from her vehicle.
The 46-year-old woman was trapped for nearly an hour before she could be removed and rushed to hospital by ambulance.
She remains in a ”serious but stable” condition in Ninewells Hospital in Dundee though her injuries are thought not to be life threatening.
The accident happened at around 6.30pm on Saturday on the A9 Stirling to Perth road at its junction with the A824 road to Auchterarder. A Park’s of Hamilton coach and two cars were involved and the injured woman was one of the car drivers. The other car driver, the coach driver and 21 passengers on board the coach were all uninjured.
To allow the removal of the casualty and vehicles the road northbound was closed for nearly two hours and diversions were put in place, with traffic being routed through Auchterarder.
Fire crews used hydraulic cutting equipment to cut the woman free before strapping her to a spinal board and handing her over to ambulance crews.
The fire service response involved a rescue pump, two water tenders and a heavy rescue unit mobilised from Auchterarder and Perth fire stations, with the first appliance on scene within six minutes.
After extinguishing the fire in the engine compartment the fire crews stabilised the vehicle before gaining entry to the car and administered first aid while waiting for ambulance crews to arrive.
Station manager Neil Kerr of Tayside Fire and Rescue explained: ”On arrival of the ambulance service the watch manager in charge explained to paramedics the tactical options available for releasing the casualty. Good communication between police, fire and ambulance commanders ensured a successful conclusion and safe release of the casualty.”
The Scottish Ambulance Service sent two ambulances, a rapid response unit and a helicopter to the scene and a trauma team also attended. Once the woman was freed she was taken by ambulance to Ninewells, accompanied by the trauma team.
Any person who witnessed the accident is asked to contact Tayside Police on 0300 111 2222 or speak to any police officer.