Five people were killed and five others injured when a car and a minibus crashed just before midnight.
The collision was on the A96 in Moray, three miles east of Keith on the road to Huntly.
Police, firefighters and paramedics were assisted by an air ambulance and a coastguard helicopter.
The casualties were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. One of the injured is believed to have life-threatening injuries.
The road has remained closed overnight.
