Investigators to look at cause of car crash that killed eldery woman

Accident investigators are flying up to Shetland to establish the cause of a road traffic accident which killed a 71-year-old woman on the West Side on Wednesday morning.

The woman, who has not yet been named, died at the scene and two men were hurt when the crash, which involved no other vehicles, happened on the B9071 between Parkhall and Skeld. The car left the road before turning over onto its roof in a burn.

Police said the woman’s next of kin have been informed. The other occupants of the car were flown by the Sumburgh-based search and rescue helicopter to the emergency landing site at the Clickimin Leisure Centre in Lerwick. They were transferred to the Gilbert Bain Hospital for treatment. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Fire crews from Bixter, Lerwick and Brae were also called to the crash site.

Efforts are underway to preserve the scene until the five accident investigators from Northern Constabulary’s road policing unit arrive in the isles from Dingwall to carry out their investigation.

Police Inspector Ross MacKillop said he could not comment on the cause of the accident until the specialist officers arrive from south on the last flight to Sumburgh from Inverness.

He refused to speculate on whether the crash could have been caused by the poor weather conditions which have been prevalent in recent weeks.

He added it was “most likely” the road would remain closed while the investigation is underway.

In the meantime there is likely to be disruption to traffic on the West Side, as vehicles are diverted through minor roads, which have themselves been affected by heavy snow.

Police are reminding all road users to take extra care when driving in the current conditions.