A young mother has been killed in a two-car crash on a notoriously dangerous Highland road.
Claire Macdonald, 35, from Inverness, died instantly after the collision at about 1.40 am yesterday on the A82 Inverness to Fort William road near Abriachan.
Ms Macdonald, a former Charleston Academy pupil, was the mother of a 12-year-old boy, Keenan.
Her companion in the car had to be cut free from the wreckage by the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service.
The collision involved a silver Renault Megane and a black Renault Clio, which Ms Macdonald was driving.
It is believed she only recently passed her driving test.
Her passenger sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital by ambulance. The driver of the Renault Megane was uninjured.
The road remained closed for seven hours whilst police carried out an investigation.
Aird and Loch Ness councillor Margaret Davidson, who lives in Abriachan, said: "It's just dreadful news for the family of this poor woman.
"My condolences go out to them."
She added that the "appalling" road needed urgent investment to bring it up to standard.
She said: "The A82 is just such an absolutely appalling road, it's not well maintained. It seems to be the bottom of the heap when it comes to maintaining or improving trunk roads."
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