Driver fined for abandoning overturned company van

A driver left the scene after overturning his van and blocked the road, Dunfermline Sheriff Court has heard.

A search of woodlands was made when the emergency services arrived but the driver Ben Sneddon had walked to his home in Cairneyhill.

Sneddon, 24, of Pitdinnie Place, admitted that on March 16 in Sunnyside Road, near Oakley, he drove a van without due care and attention, failed to maintain proper control of the vehicle, lost control and caused the vehicle to leave the roadway and overturn.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said Sneddon works for his dad’s roofing company and was driving one of the firm’s vans.

At some time between 9pm and 10pm he was driving on the Sunnyside Road, on a blind bend near Cairneyhill, when he lost control. The van ended up on its roof and was blocking the road.

Sneddon left the van there, did not report the incident and walked home. He also did nothing about the van’s recovery.

The fire service and an ambulance attended after the accident was reported to the police.

With no sign of the driver, firefighters carried out a sweep of the surrounding woodlands with infra-red cameras.

Sneddon was eventually traced at his home at 2.30am after police had contacted his father about the van.

Sneddon first claimed to police the van had been stolen but later admitted he was driving, saying: “I don’t really know what happened.”

Sheriff Alastair Brown said: “Turning a van on to its roof shows a significant level of carelessness.”

He fined Sneddon £355 and gave him nine penalty points.