Deadly Crash on Scotland's A9 Ends Family's Dream Trip

In August 2022, a family's trip to Scotland turned to tragedy when their car was involved in a fatal crash on the A9 highway. Katie Strong, her brother Jared Bastion, and their mother Mary-Lou Mauch were killed when their vehicle collided with a lorry on a single-carriageway section of the road.

The A9, Scotland's longest trunk road, has a grim history, with 48 people losing their lives on the 113-mile stretch between Inverness and Perth in the last 10 years. Drivers often attempt dangerous overtaking maneuvers on the road, which regularly alternates between single and dual carriageways.

The Scottish government had originally planned to dual the remaining single-carriageway sections by 2025, but this deadline has now been pushed back by a decade to 2035. Campaigners argue that the delays in this project have contributed to the continued loss of life on the A9.

Chris Strong, Katie's husband, has spoken of the devastating impact of the accident, describing his wife as the "glue that held all the great elements of our families together." The Scottish government has acknowledged the frustrations around the dualing project, but insists that road safety remains a top priority, with additional safety measures being implemented in the meantime.