Court / Man has sentence deferred after crash which left other driver with serious injury

A TWENTY one year old man who “inexplicably” drove on the wrong side of the road and crashed into another vehicle was more concerned about damage to his new car than the wellbeing of his seriously injured victim, Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday.

Ronan Wark, of Lerwick’s Harbour Street, admitted causing a serious leg injury to the man by entering the Black Gaet from the A970 at Scalloway on the wrong side of the road and crashing into his van on 17 February this year.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court the complainer had a good view of the road and, as he was passing the clay pigeon shooting range, noticed Wark’s car entering the junction on the wrong side of a traffic island.

The complainer drove onto the roadside verge in an attempt to avoid a collision, but a crash barrier prevented him from getting his van fully off the road before Wark’s car crashed into it.

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Mackenzie told the court the complainer became trapped inside his vehicle. He was conscious but aware of “extreme pain” in his right thigh.

Wark, the fiscal continued, walked around his own vehicle inspecting it for damage and said “I only just bought this car”, but did not make any enquiry about the other man’s “very obvious” injuries or “show any concern for him”.

Emergency services were called by another passing motorist and specialist cutting equipment was required to get the complainer out of his vehicle.

He was transferred to the Gilbert Bain Hospital and then later to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for specialist surgery on a “very significant fracture” to his leg.

The fiscal said the manner of Wark’s driving was “inexplicable”. There was no evidence of any drug or alcohol use.

Following eight days in hospital the self-employed complainer has faced a prolonged period of recovery, missing out on six months of work and a reduced ability to engage with his young children.

He continues to undergo physiotherapy and it is hoped he will eventually make a full physical recovery, but Mackenzie said he had “suffered emotionally” too and was now fearful whenever he needed to drive in the dark.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had cooperated fully with police and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank deferred sentence until 19 January for a criminal justice social work report to be prepared and disqualified Wark from driving in the meantime.