A 27-year-old motorcyclist has died in a horrific road accident in Angus.
The crash, which also involved a car, happened on the A930 Barry bypass at the junction with Station Road shortly before 3pm on Friday.
Emergency services rushed to the incident, but it is understood the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
His identity will not be confirmed until next of kin have been informed. The car driver is not thought to have suffered serious injuries in the crash.
Witnesses spoke of at least two ambulances and several police vehicles in the vicinity after the seriousness of the crash became evident.
The incident led to the immediate closure of the busy Barry bypass, leading to congestion around the village as traffic travelling from Dundee to Carnoustie increased during the tea-time commuter rush.
It was reopened last night around 10pm.
A police accident investigation team launched an immediate probe into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
One local said: “We didn’t hear anything at the time, but our house overlooks the Barry bypass and we were shocked to see so many emergency vehicles arriving there.
“We feared the worst.”
The junction does not have a reputation as a local accident blackspot, but the Barry resident said the speed of traffic on the open stretch leading westwards from Carnoustie was a growing issue of concern.
This latest fatality adds to a sad toll of tragedy on Angus roads this year which has included the deaths of an Arbroath man and woman in an incident north of Montrose, followed soon after by a crash on the A92 near Inverkeilor in which a north-east motorcyclist in his late forties lost his life.
Road safety on a key route in neighbouring Perthshire has also come under increased scrutiny following the deaths of an 18-year-old and a 49-year-old motorcyclist in separate incidents on the A923 between Dundee and Coupar Angus.
Angus roads chiefs recently agreed a plan to bring in a 40mph buffer zone on the approach to the village of Muirhead in their council area, but they have pledged to work with counterparts in Perth and Kinross to look at additional safety measures which might be implemented along the route.