Three hurt in Highland crash involving stolen car

Three people have been taken to hospital and a dog has died after a crash involving a stolen car in the Highlands.

Emergency services were called to the collision on the A96 at Newton of Petty, near Inverness, at about 08:45.

The 50-year-old female driver of a red Vauxhall Corsa and a 74-year-old passenger of a black Volvo XC60 have been flown to hospital in Aberdeen. The Volvo's male driver, 74, was taken by road ambulance to Inverness.

Police said the Corsa had earlier been reported stolen from the Buckie area in Moray.

Police said the dog had been in the Corsa.

The road at the scene remains closed while crash investigations are carried out.

Sgt Ewan Calder said: "Our inquiries into the crash and the events leading up to it are ongoing.

"I'm appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time and saw what happened, or saw the vehicles prior to the collision, to contact us.

"I'd also ask drivers with dashcams to review their footage and bring anything of significance to our attention."

It is the second collision on the A96 in the Highlands in as many days.

On Thursday, an 18-year-old motorcyclist was taken to hospital following a crash involving a car on the A96 near Auldearn.

Emergency services were called to Wester Hardmuir at about 14:40.

The man was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for treatment.

No-one else was injured.