Eight die in car and motorbike crashes over weekend

Eight people have died over the weekend in traffic collisions across Scotland.

Four motorcyclists died on Sunday in two separate crashes within an hour of each other, in Lochgilphead and the Borders.

On Saturday, emergency services were called to the B7035 in South Ayrshire where the driver of a green Land Rover was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Friday, three men, aged 21, 23 and 24, were killed in a single car crash in Falkirk. The 20-year-old female driver was taken to hospital.

“A collision affects more than just you and your car, it impacts your family, the victim’s family, emergency services and people who witness it”
Chief superintendent Hilary Sloan, head of Road Policing

Chief superintendent Hilary Sloan, head of Road Policing for Police Scotland, said each of the deaths was “tragic”.

“This weekend we have seen a high number of fatalities on Scotland’s roads,” she said.

“Each of these deaths is tragic and our thoughts are with those affected. There have also been a number of serious collisions.”

CS Sloan said officers were carrying out inquiries into each of the crashes.

“We work tirelessly to fully investigate every serious and fatal road collision, and provide support to the families of the victims,” she told STV News.

“A collision affects more than just you and your car, it impacts your family, the victim’s family, emergency services and people who witness it.

“I urge every driver and road user to think about their behaviour on the road, be considerate towards others and help us make Scotland’s roads safe for everyone.

“We all have a responsibility to use our roads safely and to help us save lives.”

While CS Sloan was giving her statement to the media, two people were taken to hospital after a car flipped onto its roof in a crash on the M8.

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Two in hospital after car flips onto roof in multi-vehicle crash on M8

Traffic is at a standstill due to the collision near Junction 27.

The westbound carriageway at Junction 27 in Hillington was closed due to the collision at around 1pm on Monday.

Last week, a major crash on the M8 left a police officer and two other men fighting for their lives in hospital.

A Mercedes A45 collided with an unmarked Volvo S90 police car and a Mercedes CLS, which were on the hard shoulder of the eastbound carriageway at around 1pm on Wednesday.