Driver fined and banned for knocking down boy

Man drove dangerously and through red light before hitting pupil outside school

A driver who knocked down a six-yearold boy after ignoring a red light and a lollipop crossing officer has been banned from driving for two years.

Ross Sutherland had claimed he had not driven dangerously but was found guilty after a trial.

He was told it was “extremely fortunate” the youngster, who had just stepped off a school bus in Dunfermline, was not seriously injured.

The boy was knocked to the ground and hurt his elbow but avoided more serious injury.

Linda Williams, 52, was the crossing patrol officer outside the Commercial and St Margaret’s primary schools that day.

She said the incident happened at around 8.40am when the area was still relatively quiet.

She told the trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court: “The first bus came in and a boy and his sister were the first ones off. The lights went to red and I stepped out into the road with my stick up.

“I saw a white car coming and presumed it would stop. I turned to tell other kids not to come on to the crossing as it was about to change.

“I then heard a thud and heard the boy call out. When I turned back he was on the road with his sister standing over him and I took them back to the pavement.”

Sutherland, 40, of the town’s Brucefield Avenue, claimed he was distracted by poor driving of others and failed to see the red lights, the lollipop lady in her hi-vis jacket and two children on the road.

He said: “It was very busy. There were cars, buses, pedestrians, dogs, children walking on the roads.

“I was taking into account all my surroundings which is why I drove through the red light.”

He was convicted of driving dangerously on Woodmill Road on February 1 last year.

Sheriff Charles Macnair called his driving “appalling” and told him: “You were driving dangerously at a crossing used by schoolchildren.

“You ignored a red light, ignored the crossing officer and went through the crossing, striking a child.”

He imposed a fine of £1,250 and a two-year disqualification.”