Hazardous driving conditions and heavy snow led to police warning people to stay away from the Glencoe area yesterday after a crash on the A82.
A two-vehicle collision took place near to Glencoe Mountain Resort and the road was closed. Five people were taken to hospital, but their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.
The road conditions deteriorated with winds causing drifting snow and white-out conditions, resulting in the snow gates at Glencoe being closed.
Inspector Jen Valentine said: “We have officers at the scene of the collision and the weather conditions in the area are extremely poor.
“We have closed the A82 while we deal with the collision and get those injured off to hospital and I would ask that drivers avoid the area at this time.
“For those who are currently at Glencoe Mountain Resort or at homes, hotels and restaurants in the area, I would urge them to stay where they are and stay safe and warm as there will potentially be a significant delay, due to the road conditions, in getting people out of the area.
“We are working closely with Glencoe Mountain Resort, Traffic Scotland, Mountain Rescue teams and Highland Council to ensure the dispersal of visitors to the Glencoe area today happens as quickly, but also as safely as possible.”
People across the country were braced for more snow after the UK froze on the coldest night in nearly two years.
Wintry conditions will continue to grip large parts of the UK, with snow forecast for areas from northern Scotland to the Home Counties.
Temperatures plummeted overnight on Saturday into Sunday, with a low of -13.5C (7.7F) recorded in the Highland village of Dalwhinnie.
A yellow weather warning for snow and ice was in place all day yesterday. A Met Office spokesman said: “An area of snow is likely to move eastwards across many central and northern parts of the UK on Sunday.
“The snow is more likely to affect higher routes with lower levels only affected more locally. In addition, rain may fall onto frozen surfaces for a time, particularly across Scotland, following a very cold night.
“The snow is expected to become confined to northeast Scotland later in the day as it progressively turns to rain from the southwest.
“This warning area has been extended northwards to cover the northwest Highlands and parts of the Western Isles.”