One for Doug ... care to tell us all how the car driver was obviously responsible for the accident?
Tips for driving across Europe 1235It's really very easy driving on the right hand side. You'll be amazed how easy it is. A few gotchas: 1. It is very easy to forget when leaving petrol stations and car parks. Get...
A man caused a high-speed crash by stepping into a dual carriageway and then asked those fleeing the scene for directions, a court has heard.
After watching a car career into the central reservation at 70mph, flip over and burst into flames, Marcus Whitelaw calmly asked the way to Inverness.
Whitelaw, 27, of Bailey Place, Lossiemouth, was jailed for two months for culpable and reckless walking. He is thought to be one of the first people to be jailed for the offence.
At Perth Sheriff Court he admitted walking into the path of oncoming traffic and endangering the lives of Marie Connon and Ian Fraser on 14 March.
Miss Connon was driving a blue Peugeot 306 northbound on the A9 between Perth and Inverness, with Mr Fraser as her pbuttenger. Fiscal depute Dawn Samson said Miss Connon had been driving from Lincolnshire to Lossiemouth and picked up Mr Fraser in Kirkcaldy.
Miss Samson said police had begun to receive a number of calls from concerned motorists about a blood-soaked man walking south on the road.
"At two thirty five in the morning, Miss Connon and Mr Fraser approached the area travelling in the nearside lane at 70 mph," she said.
"She saw something ahead. She manoeuvred into the offside lane to avoid whatever it was, then realised it was a person. The accused stepped from the nearside to the offside lane waving his arms above his head."
Ms Samson said Whitelaw appeared to be signalling for them to stop.
After applying the brakes and steering away from the pedestrian, Ms Connon mounted the central reservation.
The car struck the kerb and was lifted from the road, overturning onto its roof. It came to rest on its wheels on the northbound carriageway.
"Fuel was leaking from the vehicle and the engine was smoking," Ms Samson said. "They feared it would ignite, but Mr Fraser had difficulty opening the pbuttenger door."
He eventually managed to get out and ran to the side of the road as other motorists had to swerve to avoid the car's debris. "They got out and stood at the side of the road," Miss Samson said. "The accused approached them and said 'Sorry, did I cause that? Which way is Inverness?'"
Miss Connon was treated by paramedics at the roadside, although she and her pbuttenger escaped serious injury. The £4,000 car was written off.
Solicitor Gwen Wood, defending, said Whitelaw had been drinking during the day with friends in Inverness.
She said they had all got into a car, but there was a dispute during which punches were thrown and Whitelaw was dumped at the roadside. "He was unsure of his whereabouts and panicked and got into an agitated state. This incident has given him a wake-up call," she said.
Sheriff Michael Fletcher said: "This was an incredibly stupid action on your part. The consequences were dire, but could have been much more serious for the driver of that vehicle and others."
