‘A number in hospital’ after bus crashes into bridge in Highlands

A number of injured people have been taken to hospital after a bus crashed into a bridge in the Highlands and landed on its side.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident south-east of Munlochy, on the Black Isle, near Inverness, just after 5.40pm on Friday.

Fire, police and ambulance crews were sent to the scene at the B9161 at Littlemill Bridge.

In a statement, Police Scotland said: “A number of injured people have been conveyed to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness but no further details are being released at this time.”

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), which sent a number of resources to the scene, said it safely removed one person who was trapped in the single-decker bus.

Five other casualties were also assisted.

An SFRS spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 5.44pm on Friday to assist emergency service partners with a bus that had left the road in Inverness.

“Operations control mobilised three fire engines and a heavy rescue unit to the B9161 at Munlochy, where firefighters safely removed one casualty who was trapped from the bus.

“The casualty was passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service for treatment.

“Five other casualties were also assisted from the bus.”

Kate Forbes, the SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, tweeted: “Very concerned and sorry to see this news. Thoughts with everybody involved, particularly those who are hurt.”

The road has been closed in both directions, with diversions in place, and crews remained in attendance at the scene on Friday evening.

Any concerned relatives seeking more information, or members of the public who witnessed the accident, are being asked to contact police on the 101 number, quoting incident number 2792 of January 11.