A DRIVER died and residents of a tiny Scottish village were last night forced to flee their homes amid explosion fears after a crash between an oil tanker and a van.
A large fuel spillage resulted in a 200-metre exclusion zone as firefighters battled to free the driver of the tanker who was killed in the smash on the A977 just outside Crook of Devon, Kinross-shire.
The victim, who has not yet been named, died after his cab broke free and landed in a field at around 4.30pm yesterday.
Local people were moved into a nearby community centre as authorities battled to contain the leak from the tanker's trailer which lay on its side.
One resident said: "When I came home, I didn't really know what had happened but it definitely looked like a major incident. There were about six fire engines, police and ambulances all there. We're far enough away that we've not been evacuated but there is a row of small cottages at the side of the road where it happened so I imagine they'll definitely be evacuated.
"It's also right next to a petrol station, just 100 yards down from the cottages, which is pretty worrying. That's maybe why they've shut off so much of the road. It's just a tiny village, but they're not letting anyone through at all from Kinross."
The injured van driver was taken to Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline with a suspected neck injury.
Police confirmed local residents were evacuated to Loch Leven Community Centre, but could not say how many people were affected.
Police crash investigators attended, along with representatives from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.
The road was closed in both directions and diversions were put in place overnight.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact Tayside Police on 0300 111 2222.
Meanwhile, a main road between Lochcarron and Kyle of Lochalsh looks set to remain closed following a landslide on December 22.
Highland Council said the A890 is likely to remain closed for at least another two weeks due to the danger of further rockfall.
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