A three vehicle collision outside Forres yesterday brought rush-hour traffic to a standstill.
The crash occurred on the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road at 4.30pm yesterday.
A silver Peugeot 405, white Peugeot van and black 4×4 Kia SUV were caught up in the incident.
Nobody was injured in the collision, but the silver Peugeot 405 was left blocking westbound traffic for almost an hour, causing huge tailbacks.
The Peugeot 405 was marooned at an angle blocking the westbound carriageway completely and part of the other lane.
Shortly before 6pm a truck arrived to tow away the stranded car.
Two police vehicles attended the scene.
A police spokesman said: “I can confirm there was a collision on the A96 just outside of Forres, but thankfully there were no injuries.
“Two police vehicles attended the vicinity, and the road was clear again within an hour.”
Drivers had been urged to exercise caution on the busy carriageway following a recent smash near Findhorn Bridge.
Earlier this month a woman had to be cut free from her car after it was crushed between a tractor and a 4×4 at a dangerous junction on the A96 outside Forres.
The woman, who is in her 50s, was taken to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin by ambulance with back and pelvic injuries.