Six people had to be taken to hospital yesterday, following a crash at a notorious north-east accident blackspot which destroyed two cars.
A stretch of the A90 Aberdeen to Peterhead road, at the Toll of Birness junction, south of Hatton, was sealed off for hours after a collision between a silver Toyota Yaris and silver Volkswagen Touran at 11.50am.
The Toyota was so badly damaged that firefighters had to use hydraulic cutting equipment to slice apart its roof and free the casualties who had been left trapped inside.
The crews from Peterhead and Ellon then used a spinal board to ease one person from the vehicle, who is understood to have suffered back injuries.
A spokeswoman for the fire service said the firefighters took about an hour to free the wounded parties from the wreckage.
And motorists reported seeing a cavalcade of ambulances conveying them to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary at about 1.15pm.
A police spokeswoman confirmed that none of the casualties were thought to have suffered life-threatening injuries.
She added that the road remained closed until about 3.30pm.
Yesterday’s accident was the third to happen along the stretch of road in little more than a week.
Peterhead South and Cruden councillor, Alan Fakley, last night vowed to press for action to improve safety along the route.
Mr Fakley said: “My first thought is with those affected, but I’m growing increasingly concerned about accidents at the Toll of Birness and along the Hatton straight.
“The area is not in itself dangerous, so I really urge people to use caution on it. I would like to see measures brought in to make it safer.”
Last week, a man had to be cut from his car by firefighters after a collision with a heavy goods vehicle at the Toll of Birness junction.
And on Wednesday, the road was again closed following a crash between a Citreon Zara and a Vauxhall Vectra.
Firefighters from Ellon and Peterhead attended that incident and used cutting equipment to free one man.
Ellon councillor, Gillian Owen, has called for safety improvements on the road, including replacing the junction with a roundabout and partially dualling the route.