11 in hospital after bus crashes on icy road in Scottish Highlands

Eleven people were taken to hospital after a bus crashed on an icy road in the Scottish Highlands on Thursday.

The bus was on its way to the village of Ness on the Isle of Lewis with 10 passengers on board when it came off the road in icy conditions at around 10pm on the carriageway between Newmarket and Barvas.

It is thought that four people suffered injuries, but the 10 passengers on board and the driver were all taken to hospital as a precaution.

According to the BBC, three of the four people hurt - a woman aged 57 and two men, aged 24 and 31 - suffered minor injuries.

However, a 17-year-old girl was kept in the Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway for further observation.

According to news.stv.tv, a Police Scotland spokesman warned motorist to be aware of increasing winter conditions. He said: "We would ask all drivers to take care on the roads as the nights get darker. It may not always be possible to see how slippery roads have become."

The warning comes just days after the Highways Agency warned many drivers are poorly prepared for the perils of winter motoring.

As many as 45 per cent of motorists do not make vehicle checks before the onset of bad weather and 28 per cent do not take emergency kits.

Roads minister Robert Goodwill said: "The Highways Agency does all it can to keep the roads open during severe weather. But drivers need to play their part too by making simple vehicle checks, carrying a few important items and planning their journeys according to the weather. In very severe weather, drivers need to consider whether their journey is really necessary."

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