A BOY is in critical condition in hospital after a crash that happened as he headed for a family holiday.
The child and his mother were airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after the accident yesterday.
They and the father had to be cut free from the wreckage of the car, which had careered off the road and rolled on its side down an embankment.
Two other boys had managed to get themselves out of the green Audi before emergency services arrived at the scene of the smash, at the Oyne Fork, on the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road.
Friends said the family were on their way to the airport to fly off for a two-week holiday in Spain when the crash happened at 3.30am.
It is understood a 12-year-old boy and his eight-year-old twin brothers – one of whom is in a critical condition – were involved. The family are believed to be from the Huntly area.
The crash also involved a Volkswagen transporter van, but the male driver was unhurt.
An investigation team was at the scene for more than six hours as they tried to piece together how the smash happened. Traffic was diverted while the A96 was closed between Pitcaple and the Oyne Fork to allow the wreckage to be recovered.
A police spokeswoman said: “The collision, involving a car and a van, took place at around 3.30am on the section of road between Pitcaple and the Oyne Fork.
“There were five occupants of the car, a male and female adult and three children. The van was driven by a male.
“The five people in the car were taken to hospital, three by road ambulance and two by helicopter.
“The woman and child have sustained serious injuries.” The car the family were travelling in was left a mangled wreck.
The roof of the vehicle had been cut away to allow firefighters access to the casualties trapped inside. And the front of the vehicle had completely buckled in on itself.
There was minor damage to the front of the van.
A fire spokeswoman confirmed three appliances were sent to the crash scene, one from Insch and two from Inverurie.
She added: “The vehicle was on its side in a field, with five people in it. Cutting gear was used to release people from the car.” An ambulance spokeswoman was not able to clarify the extent of the injuries.
She said: “Four road ambulances were sent to the accident. A woman and child were airlifted from the accident by an RAF helicopter and a man and two children were taken there by ambulance.”