Police ask for information after a white Renault Clio was seen traveling on the A68 without a front tyre before being found abandoned near Crichton
Police were notified after motorists reported a badly damaged vehicle being driven on a major route. Around 9.35am on Saturday, 23 May, officers received a call about a white Renault Clio moving south on the A68 close to Pathhead, showing obvious damage to the front passenger side and notably missing the front passenger tyre.
The sighting alarmed members of the public because the car appeared unsafe to be on the road in that condition, prompting a rapid response from local patrols.
The car was subsequently located in an abandoned state near the village of Crichton.
Initial inquiries revealed the same vehicle had been involved in a collision earlier that morning on the A6106 by a service station outside Dalkeith, at approximately 9.20am. Investigators are treating the two events as linked and are reconstructing the movements of the vehicle between the earlier crash and the later sighting on the A68.
Ongoing police enquiries and the appeal to the public
Officers from Police Scotland have opened a formal inquiry and are appealing for anyone who may have information to come forward. Constable Stewart Logan said enquiries are continuing and that anyone who saw the vehicle before it was abandoned, or who observed the collision on the A6106, should contact police. The appeal specifically targets motorists who might have recorded the movement of the car on dash-mounted cameras or who can provide a witness statement describing the vehicle’s condition and direction of travel.
Reconstructing the timeline
Investigators have pieced together a preliminary timeline that places a collision at about 9.20am on the A6106, followed by the damaged vehicle being seen heading south along the A68 at around 9.35am on Saturday, 23 May. Officers believe the driver continued to the Crichton area where the car was later found left by the roadside. The sequence raises questions about whether the vehicle was briefly driven after the crash or moved by other means before being abandoned; forensic and witness evidence will help clarify what happened.
Evidence that could help
Police are especially interested in any dash-cam footage, CCTV from nearby businesses or private cameras, and direct eyewitness accounts that record the vehicle between the two locations. Even short clips that capture the car’s registration, direction of travel, or distinctive damage to the front passenger side could prove critical to the inquiry. Members of the public are asked to check recordings they may have made around the times of the incidents and preserve any relevant footage.
How to get in touch
Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland, quoting reference incident number 1240 of 23 May, 2026. When calling, witnesses should be ready to provide details such as the time and location of what they observed, descriptions of occupants if possible, and whether they have any digital evidence to submit. Providing a short written summary alongside any video material will help officers assess and prioritise leads efficiently.
Why your information matters
Small details from passing drivers or nearby residents can be decisive in establishing the facts around a road incident. Information may reveal whether anyone was injured, whether other vehicles were involved, or whether the damaged car posed a continuing danger to road users. By coming forward, witnesses contribute to road safety and support the broader investigation, helping ensure the circumstances are fully understood and any necessary follow-up action is taken.
For anyone who believes they can help, the request is clear: check your footage, review your route at the times specified, and contact police with anything of relevance. Police Scotland has asked the public to provide information quoting incident number 1240 of 23 May, 2026 so officers can quickly link submissions to the ongoing inquiry. Even seemingly minor observations could be important to the investigation and to the safety of the community.
