RockNess bus crash victims named by police

The A9 had to be closed while clear-up and accident investigations took place

Police have named two men who were killed on Friday in a crash involving a bus taking people from Edinburgh to the RockNess festival near Inverness.

A van driver and passenger died in the accident at Ralia, south-west of Newtonmore, in the Highlands.

Northern Constabulary said the men were Mark McFarlane, 38, and Barry Murray, 28, decorators from the Glasgow area.

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

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

Next of kin have been informed and a report has been forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal, the police said.

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.

The crash happened between the A889 and B9150 junctions.

Traffic on the A9, which was busier than usual owing to RockNess - taking place at Dores, beside Loch Ness - had to be diverted while the road was closed following the accident.