A woman who died after a horrific head-on crash in central Fife has today been named by police.
Tracy Forbes, of Glenrothes, was a charge nurse at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline.
The 45-year-old was one of two people who had to be cut free from the wreckage of their vehicle after it was involved in a collision with a tipper lorry on the A911 Glenrothes to Windygates road near the Markinch junction at around 1.20pm on Tuesday.
Tracy was airlifted to Ninewells Hospital but police confirmed she died at around 7.25pm.
Her sister, Lee Ann Gardner, said: “Tracy was a devoted mother and sister and who was also a perfect daughter, who was a best friend to all. She was a dedicated and passionate nurse who will be sadly missed by all.”
Tracy and the male driver of the Audi A5 Coupe were trapped in the car for some time as emergency services used heavy-duty cutting equipment to try to free them.
It is understood the driver, who is believed to be 30, was released first after around half an hour and was taken by ambulance to Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline. However, his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
Paramedics and their colleagues from the fire service were then able to fully concentrate their efforts on getting Tracy out, with an air ambulance from Glasgow summoned as the rescue operation wore on.
A specialist trauma team from Ninewells was also called to assist.
Tracy was eventually removed from the car shortly before 2.15pm, almost an hour after the accident occurred, and was stabilised by ambulance personnel before being transported to Ninewells by the waiting helicopter.
Doctors there said she had sustained serious head and internal injuries and sadly she succumbed to these.
The lorry driver, a 27-year-old man who is thought to have worked with plant hire firm Robert Purvis, was understood to be only slightly injured and was treated at the scene.
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said the incident had been a ”tough one to work through” for its personnel, who were at the scene for some time as emergency services battled to free the stricken pair from their car.
Fire engines from Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy were called to the scene by a member of the public, while a further two appliances and the heavy rescue unit from Lochgelly were also asked to attend a short time later.
Police closed a section of the A911 in both directions, while traffic was said to be very slow both ways between Preston Roundabout and the Milton Brae junction. Diversions were in place for several hours while the emergency services investigated the crash and cleared debris from the roadway.
The road reopened on Wednesday.
Fife’s head of road policing Chief Inspector Davie McCulloch appealed to anyone who witnessed the crash or saw the vehicles involved to contact them as soon as possible.
”It is essential that we get as much relevant information as possible and I am appealing to anyone who saw either the car or the lorry prior to the collision, or the collision itself, to contact us on 0845 600 5702 as soon as possible,” he said.
“We are very keen to get witness statements from the drivers and/or passengers of a small yellow car, possibly a Fiat Cinquecento, and a small, white car, possibly a Peugeot.
“We believe the occupants of these cars may have witnessed the accident itself, or are able to give us vital information which will help us complete our investigations into this tragic incident.”
The latest accident happened a few hundred yards east of the turn-off towards Balgonie Castle, although the entire stretch of road is becoming notorious for serious road smashes.
Various incidents have been reported in recent years, most notably the death of a 22-year-old motorcyclist who was killed after colliding with a van near the crest of the hill east of Milton in October last year.