Royal Mail lorry crashes on A9 in heavy snow as police close road

Recovery efforts remain ongoing after a lorry crashed off of the A9 last night.

The A9 was closed after a Royal Mail lorry crashed in heavy snow. Emergency services were called to the scene south of Berriedale following the incident yesterday, Monday, January 5.

Trunk road operator BEAR Scotland said that the road would be closed for around two hours on Tuesday morning as a recovery operation got underway.

However, efforts have proved more difficult than first thought and the road was closed until 12.30pm.

Images from the scene show the lorry having crashed off the road around half a mile south of Berriedale in Caithness. The HGV crashed through a fence before stopping at an embankment.

Police Scotland are in attendance while the closure is ongoing and traffic is currently unable to travel between Berriedale and Helmsdale.

The most recent update from BEAR Scotland showed the partially recovered lorry mostly back on the road with a recovery vehicle nearby and police standing guard.

It comes as amber weather warnings for snow and ice were issued for the north of Scotland. Drivers are being warned of “dangerous” conditions and asked to plan ahead before travelling.

A spokesperson for BEAR Scotland said: “A9 South of Berriedale, Tuesday January 6, 9am to 11am, road closed for recovery of a Royal Mail HGV. Police Scotland will be assisting recovery.”

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “The A9, around half a mile south of Berriedale, Caithness is to be closed in both directions on Tuesday, January 6, between 9am and 11am.

“This is to allow for the recovery of a lorry following a crash.”

Further weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office with more snow and ice expected tomorrow, Wednesday, January 7.