Cops probed as driver dies after car left road and caught fire

Police were called to the B851 road near Inverness at around 11.20am on Wednesday, October 2.

A Scots horror crash where the driver died after a car left the road and caught fire is being probed by the police watchdog.

Police were called to the B851 road near Inverness at around 11.20am on Wednesday, October 2 after reports of the incident.

The car reportedly left the road and fell down a nearby ditch before going up in smoke. Scottish Fire and Rescue confirmed they deployed three appliances to the scene. Smoke was seen billowing out from the roadside as emergency services tackled the incident.

Cops confirmed on Wednesday that the driver of the vehicle tragically died after the car "left the carriageway" near Daviot village, to the south of Inverness. The road was closed for 30 hours whilst investigations were carried out.

Pictures from the scene showed the burnt out car lying in an embankment. Forensic officers in white suits were also spotted scouring the roadside in the hours after the crash.

Police said they have referred the incident to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

Inverness South Councillor Duncan Macpherson said the incident was 'desperately sad'.

Posting on Facebook, he wrote: "Deeply saddened to learn of this dreadful news tonight, following yesterday’s vehicle fire at Daviot. Desperately sad news."

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A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are investigating the death of the driver of a vehicle which left the carriageway of the B851 near Inverness shortly after 11.20 am on Wednesday, 2 October, 2024. Enquiries remain ongoing. The circumstances have been referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner."

A spokesperson for the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner said: “We have received and are currently assessing a referral from Police Scotland in relation to an incident on the B851 near Daviot on Wednesday 2 October 2024.

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