Two lorry drivers killed in collision closing A9 in both directions

Two lorry drivers have died in a head on road crash on the notorious A9 road.

Emergency services were called to the scene following a collision involving two heavy goods vehicles north of Blair Atholl at around 2.25am on Friday.

A southbound silver articulated lorry carrying barrels of alcohol crashed into a northbound blue-coloured Iveco lorry, which contained newspapers.

Both the men killed are understood to be in their 30s and from the Glasgow area. Further details about the victims have not yet been released.

The Scottish Ambulance Service said that both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene on the Perth to Inverness road.

A spokesman for Tayside Police said crash investigators were at the scene and were working to establish the full set of circumstances surrounding the incident. He also said that the road will remain closed at Bruar and Dalwhinnie in both directions while the investigation is carried out.

Lengthy diversion routes of up to 120 miles were in place throughout Friday until the road reopened at 8.15pm, 18 hours after the collision.

Traffic travelling northbound from Glasgow and Edinburgh is being diverted via the A82 over the Erskine Bridge. Motorists are advised to follow signs for Crianlarich via Loch Lomond side.

From closer into Perth, the diversion is via the A85 to Crianlarich and then northwards on the A82.

An alternative diversion is to use the A90 via Dundee and Aberdeen. For traffic travelling southbound the diversion is from Inverness via the A82.

The road is likely to remain closed until Friday evening.

Northern Constabulary are assisting Tayside Police. A spokeswoman for the force said: "Northern officers are currently assisting Tayside Police who are dealing with a serious road traffic collision on the A9 in the area of Calvine. The A9 is closed both northbound and southbound and is likely to remain closed for some time yet."

Any people who witnessed the incident or were travelling on this stretch of the A9 are asked to contact Tayside Police on 0300 111 2222.

Road safety campaigners have called for the dualling of the A9 north of Perth. Currently, large stretches of the road move from dual to single carriageway, which has contributed to crash statistics that show the A9 is Scotland's deadliest road.

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