A CRASH on the A77 which took the life of a young bus driver is now being investigated as murder.

The incident occurred at around 5.30pm on Monday, August 14, and involved a white Ford Transit and a single decker Stagecoach bus near to the A77's junction with the A719 for Galston.

Following the crash, Police Scotland said that a 42-year-old man, and the driver of the bus, a 23-year-old man, were both taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow with serious life-threatening injuries.

Two bus passengers, a 68-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man, were taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution and later discharged.

Earlier this week, police then confirmed that the 23-year-old bus driver had died in hospital on Saturday, August 19.

He was later named as Gordon Stirling from the Crosshouse area of Kilmarnock.

This evening, Wednesday August 23, Police Scotland have confirmed that the fatal crash "is now being treated as a murder investigation".

Detective Chief Inspector Jennifer McCulloch said: “Our enquiries into this incident are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.

“Our thoughts remain with the family of Gordon Stirling and we are providing them with support as investigation progresses.

“Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has dashcam footage which may assist is asked to call 101, quoting incident number 3147 of Monday, August 14, 2023.”