Two killed after van and RockNess bus crash on A9 at Ralia

The crash happened in mid-afternoon on a stretch of the A9 close to Ralia

Two men have been killed in a crash with a bus taking people from Edinburgh to the RockNess festival near Inverness.

The van driver and passenger died in the accident at Ralia in the Highlands, which happened at 15:42.

The female driver of the bus, which had 46 passengers on board, had to be cut free and was airlifted to hospital.

Northern Constabulary said the road would be closed until at least midnight.

Details of the two men who were killed will not be released until next of kin have been informed.

Police said the road was closed while clear-up and accident investigations took place

Some passengers were treated at the scene and 14 were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness with a range of injuries, none of which were said to be life-threatening.

Extra traffic

The remaining passengers have been taken to Inverness where Highland Council is arranging welfare and accommodation if necessary.

There has been extra traffic on the A9 due to RockNess, which is taking place at Dores, beside Loch Ness.

The force urged drivers to be patient while the emergency services dealt with the incident.

Northbound diversions are through Dalwhinnie and southbound ones are through Crubenmore.

Another accident earlier closed the A9 southbound between the Broxden roundabout in Perth and Auchterarder.

The fatal crash comes a week after a collision between two lorries north of Blair Atholl, which left the drivers dead and closed the A9 for most of the day.

Police have now named the men who were killed as Alex Russell, 37, of Moodiesburn, North Lanarkshire, and John Sommerville, 34, of Carluke, South Lanarkshire.