Dangerous driving Dutchman banned

A DUTCHMAN working in Shetland over the summer has been banned from driving and fined £1,000 after smashing into another car while driving on the wrong side of the road.

The head on collision took place on 10 June at Weisdale near Kalliness on the main A971 road.

Evert Rog, aged 47, of De Lfgauw, in Holland, was driving a rental car south around a corner on the right hand side of the road when the accident happened.

Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday that neither he nor the other driver had time to avoid each other and the other man had to be cut free from his vehicle and taken to hospital in Lerwick where he was treated for a broken femur, four broken toes and bruised ribs.

Fortunately, an off duty consultant from Lerwick’s Gilbert Bain Hospital was passing and able to offer medical help.

Rog, who suffered one broken finger and a laceration to his hips, pled guilty to dangerous driving by letter, but procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said he had been “extremely contrite and co-operative”.

Mr Mackenzie said: “This was clearly a very serious mistake, but in fairness to him he has accepted responsibility in a very responsible manner.”

Sheriff Graeme Napier said Rog had written that he had left Shetland on 6 July and did not intend to return to the isles to work.

The sheriff reduced the fine from £1,500 due to the early plea and said that if Rog wants to drive in the UK again he must sit the extended driving test.