Three people are dead and one injured after a horror crash involving multiple vehicles on a mountain pass.
Emergency crews rushed to Slochd Summit on the A9 in the Scottish Highlands following the incident just after 11.30am on Tuesday.
An air ambulance, firefighters and police were at the scene and the road remains closed this evening.
The Scottish Ambulance Service said four patients were taken to hospital, with two at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the other at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, reports the Daily Record.
Police Scotland later confirmed three had succumbed to their injuries.
A force spokesperson added investigators are still working to understand what happened.
The identities or ages of the victims have not been released.
Photos from the scene show emergency vehicles lined up on the mountain road as a thick plume of grey smoke rises into the sky.
Three fire engines with specialist resources, as well as five ambulances were among the emergency vehicles dispatched.
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A police spokesperson said: "Enquiries are ongoing following a serious road crash, involving three vehicles on the A9 this morning.
"We have a more specific location for motorists to be aware of - the incident occurred on the A9 at the Slochd summit.
"Four people have been taken to hospital so far.
"The road will remain closed as crash scene investigators conduct enquiries into the circumstances of the collision.
"Motorists are advised to find alternative routes and diversions are in place. We have no further information for release at this stage."
A second force statement then added: "Police Scotland can confirm that three people have died following a road crash on the A9 at Slochd Summit on Tuesday, 5 July 2022.
"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the collision.
"The road is currently closed and diversions are in place."
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We received a call at 11:33 to attend a road traffic collision (RTC) on the A9 near to Slochd.
"Five ambulances, three air ambulances and a Prehospital Immediate Care and Trauma (PICT) team attended the scene.
"Four patients were transported to hospital – two to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and two to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.”
An Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson previously said: “We were alerted at 11.33am on Tuesday, July 5 to reports of a road traffic collision on the A9 at Slochd, near Carrbridge.
“Operations Control mobilised three fire appliances and specialist resources to a collision involving three vehicles.
"Firefighters are at the scene assisting emergency service partners.”
