A woman has died after her car plunged 200ft down an embankment and landed in a pond.
The young woman was travelling south along the A92 Stonehaven to Dundee road when she lost control on a bend near Inverbervie.
The white Vauxhall Corsa crossed the carriageway at the Arbuthnott road junction, smashed over a barrier and careered down the steep incline covered in thick gorse bush.
The car landed on its roof in around 3ft of water.
It is thought that the woman, who has not been named, was from north Aberdeenshire but it is not known at this stage if she was visiting friends and family in the area.
A major rescue operation was launched with three fire engines called to crash site at about 4.25pm.
A mountain rescue team and dive team from Scottish Fire and Rescue were also dispatched.
Watch manager John Strachan, of Stonehaven fire station, said it had been unclear at first where the car had stopped, given how far it had dropped.
He said: “We had at first a bit of difficulty in finding the car because it had come down this very steep embankment of around 200ft.
“It took us probably about 10 minutes to locate the car.
“Police and paramedics were already at scene. The car was on its roof in a large pond, in around a metre of water.
“The car was still visible and police and paramedics had managed to get one person out of the car and onto the bank.”
Mr Strachan said the water would be searched for any evidence relevant to the crash.
“The dive team was able to carry out a full search of the car and pond to establish no one else was there,” he added.
The road remained closed for several hours with commuters directed away from Inverbervie towards the A90 Aberdeen to Dundee road.
Inspector Ian Kirkwood, of the Aberdeenshire roads policing team, said further searches of the gorse bushes would be made in order to retrieve any of the woman’s personal affects.
“Investigations are continuing and I would urge any witnesses to get in touch,” he said.
One 71-year-old woman said she was sitting at home when she heard the emergency services arrive by Bervie Bridge.
She said: “It is a very strange bend to come off and she has obviously fallen a long way down the embankment. Poor woman, whoever she is.”
After news of the crash emerged, one woman said there was a lot of worry in the village.
The woman, who asked not to be named, said: “Everyone is just confused and worried for their kids.
“Everyone is just hoping its not one of their own.”
Anyone who witnessed the collision or saw the car being driven on the road is asked to call Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.