Drove wrong way down the A9 drunk

Driver hit HGV and descended embankment

A businessman drove the wrong way down part of the ‘killer’ A9 in foggy conditions before striking a lorry and careering down an embankment.

Thirty-eight-year-old Derek Macaloney escaped serious injury in the early morning smash but had been driving his Ford Ranger pick-up truck while almost three times over the legal drink limit.

He was fined £2250 and put off the road for 33 months when he appeared in the dock at Perth Sheriff Court.

He admitted driving with 131 milligrammes of alcohol in his blood - the maximum allowed is 50 - on the Inverness-Perth road, at Drumochter, on February 23, 2019.

He also drove carelessly - and with his headlights on full beam - and then colliding with the HGV.

He had originally been charged with dangerous driving.

Depute fiscal Lisa Marshall said two HGV drivers were heading north and approaching Drumochter Pass about 6am.

“The first driver became aware of the accused’s vehicle, with headlights on full beam, coming towards him.

“He braked heavily, almost coming to a halt in an attempt to avoid a collision.

“There was insufficient time and distance and the accused struck the side of the HGV before crossing the carriageway again and ending up down an embankment.”

Both lorry drivers went to offer assistance but the accused had freed himself and was walking up the embankment.

When they spoke to him they could “detect he had been drinking.”

The fiscal added: “They could smell alcohol and he admitted having a drink earlier.”

The emergency services were contacted and Macaloney told police: “I was driving in a lay-by at 5.15am.”

He gave a positive breath test and the drink/drive procedure was carried out after he had been taken by ambulance to Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital.

Solicitor Archie Hill said his client was part of a family firm which made metal buckets.

He had made a delivery to Aviemore the previous day and had stayed overnight, having a drink.

He left at 5.15am the next morning, there was a haar and he was heading to Cumbernauld to start work.

He decided to pull into a lay-by to take off his heavy jacket.

When he pulled out to continue his journey, he was “on the wrong side of the road.”

The lawyer added: “He’s at fault here. He should have slowed down.”

Macaloney, of Kennoway Crescent, Hamilton, admitted a number of previous convictions, including one for drink driving, but his offending behaviour was “declining,” according to his agent.

He was given three months to pay.