Crashed minibus was carrying racegoers

The single-vehicle crash happened on the A6089, between Carfraemill and Gordon, at around 10.50am on Saturday.

 

Police Scotland said the private minibus was carrying 23 adult passengers plus the driver on a journey from Newtongrange to Kelso.

 

According to reports, the group are believed to have been on their way from a pub in the village to Kelso Races when the tragedy occurred.

 

Jonathan Garratt, the course's managing director, told the Racing Post: "A number of racegoers arriving at the course were talking about the accident and it seems very likely the group of people were coming to the races."

 

Around 40 miles drive from Newtongrange, the track was hosting its final fixture of the year on Saturday, with races scheduled to begin at 11.45am.

 

Emergency services declared a major incident in the wake of the crash and the response involved the Scottish Ambulance Service, Scottish 

Fire & Rescue Service, NHS Scotland and Scottish Borders Council.

 

One male passenger died while 22 passengers and the driver were taken to hospital, Police Scotland said.

 

The injured were taken to Borders General Hospital, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow.

 

Police removed the badly damaged minibus from the scene and the road was reopened late on Saturday night as investigators probed the 

cause of the crash.

 

Chief Inspector Steven Duncan appealed for anyone with information that could help with the investigation to contact police immediately via 

101 and quote incident number 1369 of 29th December.