The family of 18-year-old Ruben MacDonald from Alness are grieving tonight after he died following a serious collision on the A9 earlier this week.
Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash, involving a white Ford Transit van and a black Ford Focus, shortly before 9.40pm on Monday 10 November, south of the Cromarty Bridge.
Ruben, who was a passenger in the Ford Focus, was taken to hospital but tragically died a short time later.
An 18-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man who were also travelling in the Focus were taken to hospital.
The man remains in a serious but stable condition, while the woman continues to receive treatment for serious but non-critical injuries.
The 50-year-old driver of the Transit van was arrested in connection with a road traffic offence and later released pending further enquiries.
Road Policing Sergeant Kate Finlayson said officers are continuing to work to establish how the collision occurred and paid tribute to the young man’s family.
“Our thoughts remain with Ruben’s family and friends who have requested that their privacy be respected at this extremely difficult time,” she said.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the collision and I’d appeal to anyone with information, who has not already spoken to police, to come forward.”
Police Scotland has urged anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or who has dashcam footage from the area around the time of the collision, to get in touch.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3378 of 10 November 2025.
