Person in hospital and three treated at scene after van catches fire following A9 crash near Crakaig

A person has been taken to hospital after a van caught fire in a crash involving a car on the A9.

Emergency services were called to the collision in the Helmsdale area near Crakaig around 8.10pm on Thursday.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent three appliances to the scene, and crews extinguished a van which was well alight.

Four casualties were passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service, with one of them taken to Raigmore Hospital.

The vehicles were later recovered, and the road reopened after 11.30pm on Thursday.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 8.15pm by emergency service partners on Thursday, October 1, to reports of a two-vehicle road traffic collision at Crakaig, south of Helmsdale.

“Operations Control immediately mobilised three appliances to the scene, and crews extinguished a van which was well alight.

“Four casualties were passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service, with one of them taken to Raigmore Hospital.

“Crews left the scene at 9.40pm after ensuring the area was made safe.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8.10pm on Thursday, October 1, 2026, we were called to a report of a two-vehicle crash on the A9 in the Helmsdale area.

“One person was taken to hospital following the crash. The vehicles were recovered and the road reopened.”

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 8.15pm on Thursday to attend an incident on the A9 at Helmsdale.

“We dispatched several resources to the scene and transported one patient to Raigmore Hospital.

“We treated another three patients at the scene.”