A MAN had to be cut free from the wreckage of his Volkswagen car after it was involved in a head-on crash with a bus on the Black Isle yesterday.
He and another motorist who had been travelling in a Nissan Micra were both taken to hospital after the three-vehicle smash on a narrow stretch of the A832 coast road.
The Number 26 Stagecoach Fortrose-Inverness service was heading towards Avoch when it was involved in the collision with the eastbound Volkswagen Polo between the village and Fortrose.
Stagecoach said neither the bus driver nor any of the passengers on board was injured in the crash.
Two fire engines and the brigade’s emergency rescue tender were sent to the scene.
Crews used cutting equipment to remove the roof and doors from the Polo to release an injured 60-year-old man. He was placed on a spinal board and transferred to a waiting ambulance, which took him to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
His injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.
A second casualty was able to get out of the other car without assistance and was also taken to Raigmore Hospital.
A spokeswoman for Stagecoach said: “Police are investigating an incident involving three vehicles that occurred on the A832 between Avoch and Fortrose.
“A bus operating Service 26 heading towards Avoch was one of the vehicles caught up in the incident, which happened at around 2.40pm.
“There were no injuries to any passengers or the driver on board the bus. Our immediate thoughts are for the welfare of those involved in this incident.”
She declined to say how many passengers were on board.
The crash blocked the road and local diversions were set up. The two-lane road is particularly narrow where the crash happened and the carriageway is bordered on one side by the stone sea wall, with no verge, and on the other by a high rock face.
The wreckage of the Volkswagen Polo was at an angle facing towards the bus, with the rear end on the embankment verge.
Police closed the road between Shore Street in Avoch and St Andrews Walk in Fortrose while the casualties were removed.
The road remained closed for almost four hours for investigations to be carried out and the damaged vehicles to be removed.
Black Isle photographer Paul MacMaster was one of those caught up in the tailback caused by the accident.
He said: “I arrived about five or 10 minutes after it happened. I was just heading up to Chanonry Point to take photos of dolphins.”
The 47-year-old said he had been passed by several emergency service vehicles shortly before he arrived at the crash site.
He was stuck in traffic for about 25 minutes before turning round and heading home to Dingwall.
Avoch and Killen Community Council secretary Angus McWilliam said the crash site was on a “nasty bit of road”.
He said: “I’m sad for those who were involved in this accident and were hurt. It’s such a shame.
“That road is very narrow, with walls on both side. It’s a nasty little bit of road to drive along but I don’t have any knowledge of any other accidents there in recent years.”