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Three dead in head-on collision Three dead in head-on collision
(about 1 hour later)
A young man and two young women have died and two men have been injured in a head-on crash between a car and a van in Aberdeenshire. Two young women and a young man have died, and two other men have been injured, in a head-on crash between a car and a van in Aberdeenshire.
The driver of the car, a 22-year-old man, and an 18-year-old woman passenger were pronounced dead at the scene.The driver of the car, a 22-year-old man, and an 18-year-old woman passenger were pronounced dead at the scene.
A woman in her early 20s, also a passenger in the car, was airlifted to hospital but died from her injuries.A woman in her early 20s, also a passenger in the car, was airlifted to hospital but died from her injuries.
The accident happened on the B9022 two miles south of Portsoy, at about 1820 BST on Monday.The accident happened on the B9022 two miles south of Portsoy, at about 1820 BST on Monday.
This has been one of the blackest weeks on roads in the Grampian Police area for a long time Supt Harry ThorburnGrampian Police
The two men in the van were taken to Dr Gray's Hospital, Elgin, for treatment.The two men in the van were taken to Dr Gray's Hospital, Elgin, for treatment.
Tragic deaths The deaths take the total number of people killed on Grampian's roads to six in the last week.
Insp Ewan Innes, from Grampian Police, said: "Collision investigators carried out a detailed examination of the scene with the road being closed for nine hours. Supt Harry Thorburn, of Grampian Police, said: "This was a shocking and tragic event which will have a deep and lasting impact on the families of those involved.
"Whatever the cause may be, three young persons have died tragically and my thoughts are with their families at this sad time." "We are deeply saddened that our officers have had to deal with three fatal road traffic collisions in just one week.
Insp Innes appealed for drivers who were in the area around the time of the collision to come forward to police. "This has been one of the blackest weeks on roads in the Grampian Police area for a long time and we feel very much for the families of the three young people who have died in this latest collision as we do for the families of the three people who died earlier in the week."
The road was closed for nine hours for accident investigationsThe deaths take the total number of people killed on Grampian's roads to six in the last week. He added: "I would urge drivers to take great care on the roads so that they do not become victims, and their families do not have to endure what the relatives of these three young people are suffering today."
The road was closed for nine hours for accident investigations
The road was closed for nine hours to allow an accident investigation.
Grampian Police appealed for witnesses.
The minister for transport and the local MSP Stewart Stevenson said the Scottish Government was already looking at how it could make people better equipped for driving in difficult conditions.The minister for transport and the local MSP Stewart Stevenson said the Scottish Government was already looking at how it could make people better equipped for driving in difficult conditions.
He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We certainly need to make sure that people who've just passed their test build their experience up and gain an understanding of road conditions.He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We certainly need to make sure that people who've just passed their test build their experience up and gain an understanding of road conditions.
"We also need to look at whether in passing their test they are fully equipped to carry passengers, to drive at night, to drive in bad weather."We also need to look at whether in passing their test they are fully equipped to carry passengers, to drive at night, to drive in bad weather.
"So, it may be that there is a role for looking at how licences gradate up to full qualification.""So, it may be that there is a role for looking at how licences gradate up to full qualification."