A PENSIONER badly injured in a crash that killed his wife was yesterday in a high-dependency unit in hospital.

Kevin Burke, 80, a dog show judge, underwent emergency surgery after he was critically injured in the crash at a notorious accident blackspot in south-west Scotland on Friday.

Mr Burke's wife, June, 77, died almost instantly in the two-vehicle crash on their way to his daughter's home in Carsphairn Village in north Kirkcudbrightshire.

Their silver Suzuki Vitara was involved in a head-on smash near Carfad dam and power station four miles north of St John's Town of Dalry.

A 67-year-old woman in the other vehicle – a blue Renault Scenic – is also in Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. Her condition has been described as stable.

Mr Burke, from Bury, Lancashire, was airlifted more than 40 miles to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary after being treated at the scene by paramedics.

He had been on his way to judge the dog show at the village agricultural show at Carsphairn. The event was being organised by his daughter, who lives in the village.

The accident happened on a series of bends where there have been numerous accidents.

The road was closed until Saturday morning as a police investigation into the crash took place.

Diversions were in place for a total of eight hours.

Firefighters from New Galloway and a unit from Dalmellington in Strathclyde were called to the scene and cut the three people from the wreckage.