CAMPAIGNERS have claimed that the death of a baby in a road crash could have been avoided if plans to upgrade an accident blackspot had gone ahead.

The three-week-old boy, who has not been named by police, died in hospital after a three-car smash on the A75 Gretna to Stranraer road, close to Carrutherstown, Dumfries and Galloway, on Wednesday night.

The baby's parents, who live nearby, are being comforted by family and friends.

One family friend said: "Everyone around here is absolutely devastated by this. It is an absolute disaster"

Paramedics fought to save the baby as he was rushed to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, where doctors continued the battle to save him, but he was later pronounced dead.

Three adults were also taken to the hospital but released after treatment.

Angry locals have blamed the Scottish Government for the tragedy after it did not implement a £10 million improvement project that would have taken in the accident spot between Dumfries and Annan.

A campaign to upgrade the road has been going on for around 20 years.

Local campaigner Ann Wright, who lives at Foster Meadow Farm, Carrutherstown, said: "This is not acceptable. This wouldn't have happened if the Government had carried out the work as they promised. This road is an important link with the ferries and main routes but unless you are in the north-east of Scotland you don't get anything from this Government.

"I've been campaigning for years and I'm going to start again. I'll be contacting my local MP and MSPs."

She added: "You can't really begin to think how these poor parents are feeling after this. It is totally unacceptable and something must be done."

Tributes were also made on Facebook for the baby, alongside further calls for the road to be upgraded.

Local MSP Dr Elaine Murray said the project needs to go ahead urgently to avoid any more accidents.

She said: "People have been wanting something done for years. There is massive support for improvements here. This road must be upgraded as soon as possible to stop any other tragedy like this."

Numerous fatal accidents have occurred in the past decade on the Hardthorn stretch of the road, 10 miles east of Dumfries.

Last year, a row broke out when Transport Minister Keith Brown revealed there was no completion date for the improvement project.

Dr Murray expressed "shock, dismay and anger" at the announcement.

The scheme had been due to start six years ago to widen 3km of the A75 to give motorists space to overtake safely, but the project was delayed because of the economic downturn.

After the accident, the road was closed for almost 11 hours and diversions were set up to allow crash investigations to take place.

Firefighters from Dumfries and Annan were called to the scene to help free some of the victims.

Dumfries and Galloway Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident, which involved a Honda Civic, a Ford Focus and a Renault Clio, to contact them.

A force spokesman said: "The occupants of the vehicles were treated for a variety of injuries including shock, cuts and bruises. Unfortunately, one person, a young child, died as a result of the crash."

A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: "Our sympathies are with family and friends at this time.

"As police investigations into this accident are ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time, however, as part of standard policy, officials will meet with the police and our operating company for the south-west unit to obtain more detailed information on this tragic accident."

Elsewhere, two men were killed in a crash involving a lorry and a car on the A82, near Loch Leven, in the Highlands yesterday. Northern Constabulary are appealing for information.