OAP with bad eyesight told not to drive – then killed cyclist in crash
A PENSIONER warned not to drive because of his failing eyesight killed a cyclist when he crashed into him on a country road.
John Johnstone was driving home from a vehicle body repair business when he collided with Hanno Garbe.
The 84-year-old had been told months earlier that he had cataracts in both eyes and must not drive. Advocate depute Alex
Prentice, QC, yesterday told the High Court in Edinburgh: ‘The accused was aware that he could not drive until after a successful cataract operation.’
Johnstone, of, Kingussie, Inverness-shire, admitted causing the death of Mr Garbe, 57, by driving dangerously on March 4 last year on the B9152 Aviemore to Kincraig road near Loch Alvie. He failed to see Mr
Garbe, a keen cyclist, and smashed into the rear of his bicycle.
Mr Garbe, a German national, had moved to the UK in 2007 and lived with his wife Dagmar in the Aviemore area.
The senior sales manager suffered multiple injuries to his head, chest and pelvis and was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, where he died the next day.
Mr Prentice said that in September 2018, Johnstone, a widower, went to Specsavers in Inverness for his annual sight test.
He told optometrist Ellen Torrance that the sight in his right eye was deteriorating and his distance and near vision seemed worse.
Mr Prentice said: ‘At the conclusion of the eye examination Ellen Torrance told the accused he had a big drop in his distance vision and a cataract in his right and left eyes.
‘She concluded that the accused did not meet the driving standards and told the accused he could not lawfully drive, must not drive and must notify DVLA of his condition.’
The assessment was confirmed two months later when Johnstone went to the eye clinic at Raigmore Hospital.
After the crash, Johnstone, who was wearing glasses, failed a roadside eye test. Mr Prentice told the court: ‘He could only read the registration plate at a distance of 4.8metres [15ft]. The requirement is to be able to read it at 20metres [65ft].’
Judge Lord Fairley deferred sentence until next month for reports and Johnstone, who had followed the proceedings via a video link to Inverness Sheriff Court, was given an interim driving ban.