An elderly woman died yesterday after being knocked down by a car on Moray’s busiest road.
The pedestrian, who is thought to have been aged about 80, was struck by a black Vauxhall Vectra saloon on the A96 Inverness-Aberdeen route.
The collision happened near Gateside Farm, which lies between Forres and Alves, and is on a long, largely straight stretch of road with a 60mph speed limit.
Last night, road policing officers were trying to piece-together what happened. The A96 was blocked and the scene was cordoned-off as they carried out an investigation.
A police spokesman said: “At approximately 5.45pm we responded to a report of a road traffic collision on the A96 between Forres and Elgin.
“The collision involved a black Vauxhall Vectra saloon motor car and an elderly female pedestrian.
“The male driver of the vehicle is uninjured, however the female pedestrian died at the scene.”
Traffic heading west was redirected down the B9013 towards Burghead by police officers.
Meanwhile, vehicles travelling in the opposite direction were sent in the direction of Kinloss.
The woman will not be named by police until her next of kin have been informed.
Heldon and Laich councillor Eric McGillivray, who sits on Moray Council’s public protection partnership committee, said: “It is really sad to hear about this, it is a terrible time of the year for this to happen and her family must be heartbroken.”