Fife bus driver to stand trial for accident which left boys injured

Dunfermline: One schoolboy was dragged under vehicle and left seriously injured

The trial of a Fife man who is accused of dangerous driving after two schoolboys were hit by a bus is to go ahead later this month.

John Morrison, 59, of Marmion Drive, Glenrothes, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court yesterday for a preliminary hearing.

His defence advocate Dana Forbes and procurator fiscal Clare Kennedy told the court they were both ready to go ahead with proceedings on April 23.

Morrison, who appeared in front of Sheriff Derek Reekie, maintained his plea of not guilty.

Two children were left injured – one seriously – following an accident involving a Bay Travel bus on February 28.

Morrison is accused of causing serious injury to one of the youngsters, then aged 13, by driving dangerously and failing to properly observe the roadway around him.

The charge alleges that his vehicle hit the 13-year-old and another boy, who was then aged 12, on Allan Crescent in Dunfermline.

The incident sparked a huge response from police, the Scottish Ambulance Service and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The oldest of the two boys suffered serious leg and arm injuries as a result of the collision near Abbeyview Bowling Club.

He was trapped under the vehicle for around 30 minutes while firefighters worked to free him.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was rushed to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

The other boy, who also can’t be named, was treated at the scene where he was described by paramedics as “walking wounded”.

Defence advocate Ms Forbes yesterday said: “The Crown indicates that 15 witnesses have been cited.

“If they are all called then it is unlikely that the case will be dealt with in one day and will need to be part heard.

“If the matter is to be part heard, Mr Morrison has a pre-planned holiday on the 26th of April to the 7th of May.”

She added that an expert report had been compiled and was made available to the defence team on April 3.

Ms Forbes said it would be submitted to the Crown before the trial and the author, Jack Mcburnie, would be called as a witness.

Sheriff Reekie continued to the case to trial and ordained Morrison to appear on April 23.

svesty@thecourier.co.uk