A man was left fighting for his life after a road accident on the A90.
He suffered serious injuries after the car he was travelling in left the dual-carriageway half a mile north of Laurencekirk junction.
The Volkswagen Passat went into a field off the northbound lane, and two other people are understood to have suffered lesser injuries.
The area is often described as an accident “black spot”, and a decade-long campaign has fought to make the junction safer with the addition of a flyover.
MEP George Lyon has called for action to be taken by the Scottish Government to build it.
On a recent visit to the area, the Liberal Democrat met supporters of the flyover at the spot between the A937 and the A90.
Sir Robert Smith MP, Councillor Peter Bellarby from Stonehaven and Councillor David May from Montrose have all called for a flyover to be built at the junction to reduce the number of accidents in recent years.
Mr Lyon said: “It’s about time that the Scottish Government committed to building a flyover at Laurencekirk. This has been a problem for years and the failure of the Government to act and protect local people is shameful.
“We shouldn’t have to wait for another fatality before action is taken.”
The accident happened at about 5.45am on Thursday and the man was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by ambulance. Another man and a woman were also hurt and diversions were in place through Fettercairn as an investigation was held.
Police kept the northbound carriageway closed at the Upperton junction into the late afternoon to allow for a collision investigation.
A spokeswoman said: “Three people were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by ambulance. One male was believed to have serious injuries.”
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We got the call at 5.49am advising of a one-car road traffic accident on the A90, approximately half a mile north of the Laurencekirk turnoff.
“We had one ambulance attend who arrived at 6.05am. They then requested a second ambulance to attend.”
In December, a petition to upgrade safety on the stretch of road was submitted by local campaigners to Holyrood’s infrastructure and capital investment committee.