Four people have been taken to hospital after 17 vehicles were involved in a crash on the A92.
Emergency services rushed to the A92 near Bridge of Muchalls around 12.40pm on Friday following reports of a multi-vehicle smash.
Seven people were injured in the collision, with four being taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment while three were treated and discharged at the scene.
The extent of injuries is not yet known. A dog was also reportedly in one of the vehicles and has been reported missing on social media by locals.
The incident sparked a major emergency response, with seven ambulances, two special operations response teams (SORT) and a trauma team being dispatched by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Officers from Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue service also attended the incident.
Photographs from the scene show one vehicle wedged between a tree and a wall at the side of the road.
Enquiries into the crash are ongoing and the road remains closed in both directions between Stonehaven and Newtonhill to allow for recovery of the vehicles.
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 12:49 to attend an incident on the A92 between Bridge of Muchalls and Newtonhill.
"Seven ambulances, two special operations response teams (SORT) and a trauma team were dispatched to the scene.
"Four patients were transported to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and three patients were treated and discharged at the scene.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were called around 12.50pm on Friday, March 24, to a report of a series of crashes involving 17 vehicles on the A92 southbound near the junction with Walker Drive, Muchalls.
“Emergency services attended and four people, a woman aged 21, and three men aged 23, 40 and 58, were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to be checked over.
“Several other people were checked by the Scottish Ambulance Service at the scene.
“The road was closed for the vehicles to be recovered and re-opened around 7pm.”
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