A schoolboy and two men were taken to hospital yesterday after a crash which sparked a full-scale emergency response.
An air ambulance, three ambulances, two fire crews and police were scrambled to the scene on the outskirts of Ellon, after initial reports indicated six people had been injured.
Police arriving at the scene discovered a boy, aged about 12, was trapped in one of the two cars involved.
Firefighters cut the youngster free from the wreckage and he was treated for non life-threatening injuries by paramedics. The air ambulance was stood down before arriving on scene.
The child was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by road ambulance, while a second vehicle took two men to the hospital.
It is understood they suffered broken bones and bruising, although their condition is not known.
The crash, involving a blue Citreon AX, which the boy is believed to have been in, and a blue Nissan Primera happened at the junction of the town’s Golf Road and the A948 route to New Deer at about 2.10pm.
A police spokesman said: “Initially it came in as a multiple injury road traffic collision, with six people injured and two vehicles involved.
“Three ambulances were deployed, as well as the air ambulance, Scottish Fire Service and police.
“When the first police unit arrived they found two vehicles had been involved and a boy was trapped.
“He was released by firefighters and was treated at the scene for non life-threatening injuries.
“He was the only person that suffered any significant injury.”
An ambulance spokesman said: “We took one approximately 12-year-old male into Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
“Two older males were also taken into the hospital in a separate vehicle.”
A fire spokeswoman added: “There was one person released by the fire service. The paramedics were there so he was released into their care.”
Debris lay scattered across the junction, and the road remained shut for more than an hour while it was cleared away and the scene made safe.
Meanwhile, a 54-year-old biker was taken to hospital after losing control of his machine on the B9105 Turriff-Fintray road on Saturday.
He was flown by air ambulance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, suffering from a leg injury.
The accident happened just before 2pm.