A YOUNG driver has died and another seriously hurt after two cars plunged 70ft into a freezing river on the outskirts of Aboyne.
Two vehicles plummeted into the River Dee just outside the village in Aberdeenshire this morning.
Emergency crews raced to the scene on the A93 at around 8.05am today, launching a major rescue operation.
Police divers were seen searching the cars – which appear to have crashed down a steep embankement into the River Dee.
Several ambulances, fire engines and emergency RIB rescue units were all scrambeld to the scene.
A helicopter search unit was circling the area while mountain rescue teams with dog units scoured the river bank.
Police have now confirmed that the 19-year-old driver of the Audi was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 26-year-old driver of the BMW was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, where he is described as being stable.
Sergeant Eoin Maxwell from the Divisional Road Policing Unit said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man who died.
“Our investigation is at an early stage and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the crash, who has not yet spoken to police, to contact us.
"We are also keen to obtain any dashcam from motorists driving on the road around the time of the crash."
Locals have described the roads in the area as "treacherous" with water sitting on top of ice.
Photos from the scene show the two cars in the river completely submerged in the bone-chillingly cold water.
All that's visible of one car is the wheels while the other was missing it's rear end with the windows and side door smashed in.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "We are currently assisting emergency service partners at an incident on the A93 near Aboyne.
"At 8.07am on Monday, 19 December Operations Control mobilised two appliances and a number of specialist resources to the scene."
The Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We received a call today at 0804 hours to attend a road traffic collision on the A93, west of Aboyne.
"We dispatched two ambulances, our trauma team and specialist operations team (SORT) to the scene, with air support from the coastguard.
"One patient was transported to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and one to Raigmore.”
Mountain Rescue and the Coastguard have also been approached for comment.
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