Police are trying to establish why a Forres pensioner was walking alone on the busy A96 around 25 miles from her home when she was struck by two cars.
The woman, who is believed to have been in her 80’s, died after the accident on Tuesday evening near Petty Church at Tornagrain.
Emergency services were contacted by motorists shortly after 8.30pm on Tuesday evening and traffic diverted via Inverness Airport and Castle Stewart as investigations were conducted. The road was reopened at 3am on Wednesday.
Officers returned to the scene later on Wednesday afternoon to continue investigations and are appealing for witnesses who might have seen an elderly woman in the area.
A spokeswoman said: “At 8.26pm on Tuesday we received a report of a serious road traffic collision on the A96 near Tornagrain involving two cars and a pedestrian.
“Sadly as a result of her injuries the pedestrian died at the scene. We are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time of the collision, or who may have seen an elderly woman walking in the area, to contact us on 101.”
Police investigations are understood to be centred around what the woman’s movements were in the minutes before the accident.
Local councillor for Culloden and Ardersier, Roddy Balfour, said: “It is always sad to hear when this sort of thing happens – but it shows the dangers of the A96 and having to cross such a busy road.
“It is a sad loss if it is someone in the community, but the sadness is even greater if they are visiting someone in the community.”