A lorry driver was seriously injured when his vehicle careered off a Moray road before crashing down an embankment.
The lorry, which had been travelling west from Keith, spun a full 360 degrees when it crashed just past the Buckie junction.
The hired lorry was carrying assorted blankets and fabrics, believed to have been from the Johnston’s of Elgin wool mill.
The driver was taken to Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin, where his condition is believed to be serious.
Police could not confirm whether his injuries are life-threatening.
Officers closed a large stretch of the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road between Fochabers and Keith shortly after 3.30pm while investigations into the incident were carried out.
Smashed bollards littered the roadside where the lorry had skidded across the carriageway.
The roof and sides of the vehicle were completely torn from its body by the force of the crash, and the driver’s cab was badly damaged.
The cargo of boxes, including blankets and cashmere scarves, lay heaped in the ravaged framework of the roof following the crash but none of the merchandise appeared significantly damaged.
A police spokesman confirmed: “The lorry had rolled over when it came off the road, and the driver sustained serious injuries.
“We maintained a presence at the scene until the vehicle was removed.”
The man was taken from the site by an ambulance from Elgin at around 4.45pm.
The road reopened for a spell at 5pm but shortly thereafter closed to allow space for the recovery of the wrecked lorry.
The vehicle was uplifted by the Sheriffmill motor company of Elgin after 7pm.