A 73-year-old woman has been killed in a three-car crash on the A9 outside Evanton.
Emergency services sent an air ambulance, three ambulances and a doctor to the scene of the collision at around midday yesterday. Last night police confirmed that a woman had died in the crash.
Officers named her as Margaret Macbeath, who was also known as Moira. She was from Alness and was driving a grey Vauxhall Corsa at the time of the incident.
The crash also involved a Citroen Picasso and Toyota Hilux, but no-one in either of these vehicles suffered any serious injuries.
Sergeant Donnie Mackinnon said: “Our thoughts are very much with Moira’s family and friends at this sad time.
“I would also like to pass on our thanks to everyone who was diverted past the collision for their patience and consideration while officers dealt with this incident.
“Our enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and I would ask anyone who has information but has not yet spoken to a police officer to call the Road Policing Unit in Dingwall on 101 quoting incident 1486 of June 27.”
A spokesman for the ambulance service added: “We received a call at 12.04pm to attend a road traffic collision on the A9 in Evanton.
“We dispatched three ambulances, an air ambulance and a basics doctor to the scene.”
The road was closed for more than six creating traffic gridlock as temperatures reached 30.9C in the Highlands.
As significant tailbacks extended through Dingwall and beyond, local residents along the road brought fresh water, juice and supplies to those stuck in the queues. Motorists with children and pets in their vehicles were particularly grateful for the aid.
Foulis Storehouse, a shop near the scene of the crash, was handing out water to drivers.
On Tuesday a motorcyclist was hurt after his bike and a car collided on the far north coast A836 between Armadale and Bettyhill in north Sutherland.
The 57-year-old man was taken to Raigmore Hospital Hospital in Inverness after the crash on an undulating stretch of the road near the junction for Swordly.
Police described his injuries as serious but not life-threatening.
The occupants of the Vauxhall Mokka car were uninjured.
Meanwhile yesterday police named the 21-year-old man who died following a crash on the A835 Tore to Ullapool road west of Tarvie on Sunday as Lachlan Tom Brown, from the Killen area on the Black Isle.
Mr Brown was the driver of a blue Volkswagen Bora car, which was involved in a collision with a green and white Peugeot Boxer van.
The incident was reported shortly after 6.25pm on Sunday June 24.
Mr Brown was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness where he died on Monday night.
A woman passenger from the car was also treated at Raigmore and has since been released, while a man who was the driver of the Peugeot van was assessed at the scene and did not require further treatment.
Road Policing Sergeant Gregor Hay said: “Our thoughts are with Lachlan’s family and friends at this very sad time.
“Our inquiries are ongoing to establish exactly what happened in this tragic incident and I would ask anyone who has information which has not yet been passed to police to make contact.