Kilmarnock: Mother and daughter among three dead following ‘serious incidents’ in town

A mother and daughter are among three people who died in a series of linked incidents in Kilmarnock on Thursday night.

Emma Robertson Coupland, 39, was found injured in a car park outside Crosshouse Hospital in the town at 7.45pm. She received medical care, but died at the scene.

In the second incident 20 minutes later in Portland Street, her 24-year-old daughter Nicole Anderson was stabbed.

Emergency services attended and she was taken to Crosshouse Hospital, where she later died.

The final incident, a fatal road crash, took place on the C50 – a road between the B7036 and the A76.

A 40-year-old man driving the car was pronounced dead at the scene. He has not been named.

Relatives of the victims have been made aware.

Police Scotland said enquiries carried out so far have indicated that the incidents were linked.

An investigation is under way to establish the exact circumstances of what happened.

Officers are not looking for anyone else as part of the investigation and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Chief Superintendent Faroque Hussain said: “A number of locations remain cordoned off as officers continue to conduct enquiries.”

He added: “Understandably, people will be shocked by what has happened. We are still in the process of establishing the full circumstances, however, I would like to reassure people that there is no wider threat to the community.

“Officers will be on patrol and anyone with any concerns can approach these officers.”

The hospital was locked down following the first incident, but that was lifted at around 10.30pm Thursday evening when police declared it safe to do so.

On Friday morning, the hospital’s A&E department and main entrance were open and running as normal while two police vans full of officers remained outside with police tape around part of the car park.

Ahead of the daily Scottish government coronavirus briefing at Friday lunchtime, deputy first minister John Swinney spoke about the “dreadful” events.

He said: “A tragedy like this would be impossible to understand at any time, but after the events of the past year it is particularly shocking that such an incident has taken place at an NHS hospital.”

He added: “And again I want to send my deepest condolences to the family and the friends of those who have been killed.”

Downing Street said Boris Johnson‘s thoughts are with those involved.

A Number 10 spokesman said: “The prime minister’s thoughts are with all those involved and he thanks the police and the healthcare staff for their response.”

Several roads in Kilmarnock town centre remain closed – including Portland Street, West George Street and Garden Street via Hill Street – as well as where the crash occurred, with diversions in place.

Anyone who has any information which could assist this investigation should contact police on 101.

(c) Sky News 2021: Kilmarnock: Mother and daughter among three dead following ‘serious incidents’ in town