Man, 56, is fighting for his life after a crash involving a marked police car on the A76 in East Ayrshire

Police Scotland's custody centre admissions fell by more than 15,000 in 2025-26, amid warnings that officers are being steered away from making arrests due to a shortage of cell space.

A 56-year-old driver is in a critical condition at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow after his Seat Mii struck a marked police car and a BYD Dolphin on the A76 at Kingencleugh, near Mauchline, on Friday afternoon. Firefighters cut him free from the wreckage before he was airlifted to hospital. Neither the two officers nor the BYD Dolphin's driver needed hospital treatment.

Police Scotland has opened an investigation into the collision, stating that the Seat had not been part of a pursuit at the time.

The three-vehicle crash took place at around 2.40pm on Friday and forced the closure of the A76 in both directions.

Sergeant Gordon Stewart is appealing for anyone with dash-cam footage from the area to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 1987.

BBC News - ScotlandDriver critically ill after crash involving police car in East Ayrshire The TelegraphRoad accident Daily RecordDriver fighting for life after horror crash with police car near Ayrshire village

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