Two pensioners killed in a crash that left another two people seriously injured have been named.
Margaret Flynn, 88, and Barbara Dowdy, 80, died when the car they were travelling in veered off the A920 Colpy to Oldmeldrum road and crashed into a tree.
Two other people in the silver Mitsubishi Shogun, named locally as Morgan and Lynda Cresswell, were taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Police last night confirmed the couple, from Tarves, remain in hospital in a serious, but stable, condition.
It is understood Ms Flynn, from Gloucester, and Ms Dowdy, of Rockport, Texas, were sisters and were in the north-east visiting family.
The accident happened at about 4pm on Sunday, on a straight stretch of road near Tocher and the Meikle Wartle junction.
Several members of the public stopped to help the trapped passengers until emergency services arrived at the scene, but Ms Flynn and Ms Dowdy – who were in the back of the vehicle – could not be saved.
As news of the tragedy spread, members of the Tarves community rallied in support for Mr and Mrs Cresswell, who were described as a quiet, but lovely, couple.
Earlier this week, police appealed for anyone who was using the A920 – which was busier than usual as the A96 Aberdeen-Inverness road was closed for resurfacing works – to come forward.
Sergeant Chris Whelan said: “I wish to appeal to any motorists who were travelling on the A920 about 4pm and had seen the silver Mitsubishi Shogun 4×4 vehicle. I would be particularly keen to hear from anyone who may be able to describe the manner in which this vehicle was being driven prior to the collision.”