The man and woman, both believed to be in their 30s and from the Fraserburgh area, were pronounced dead at the scene near Cortes.

A toddler, believed to be their daughter, was taken to Aberdeen Sick Children's Hospital with serious leg injuries, where her condition is described as serious but stable.

The two-year-old was the only survivor of the crash.

Grampian Police confirmed the accident occurred on the A90 Peterhead to Fraserburgh road at around 1.15am on Sunday, when the couple's green Vauxhall Frontera left the road.

Inspector Ewan Innes from Grampian Police Roads Policing Department said: "This is a particularly tragic incident and my thoughts are with the family of those involved. Our enquiries are at a very early stage and I appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision or its immediate aftermath to contact the Police."

The road was closed for around seven hours while collision investigators examined the scene. At about 9.40am on Sunday morning, a short time after the road re-opened, a two-vehicle collision occurred on the A90 at Philorth, when a Volvo S60 motor car was in collision with a lorry.

The driver of the Volvo, a 37-year-old male from the Fraserburgh area, was conveyed by Ambulance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where his condition is described as serious. The male lorry driver did not require hospital treatment.

The road was again closed while investigators carried out examinations.
Inspector Innes continued: "Weather conditions have been very poor in the Buchan area over the weekend with many routes affected by snow.

"Clearly road and weather conditions at the time of both collisions will be taken into account."