The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Teenager accused of ramming police car during chase
Ateenager has been remanded in custody in connection with a high-speed police chase and crash which left three children seriously injured.
The 17-year-old boy is alleged to have deliberately rammed a police car before overturning and causing serious injury to his three 14-year-old passengers.
The youth, who cannot be identified because of his age, is alleged to have been on bail while driving an uninsured car on February 20.
He made a brief appearance in private at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday and made no plea. The case was continued for further examination and he was remanded in custody by Sheriff Neil Bowie.
The teenager, from Dundee, is alleged to have driven a 20-year-old Vauxhall Corsa dangerously on a number of roads in and around Perth before crashing on the A90 near St Madoes.
It is alleged he caused serious injury to two girls and one boy by driving dangerously between Bridge of Earn and the A90 where the car overturned.
He is alleged to have negotiated a mini roundabout in the wrong direction on Tay Street, Perth, before driving on the wrong side of the road on Marshall Place.
He allegedly overtook a line of vehicles which had stopped at a red light on Edinburgh Road, before overtaking another line of stopped cars and ignoring a further red light.
The youth is alleged to have driven into Bridge of Earn on the wrong side of the A912, forcing the driver of a Renault Kangoo to swerve to avoid a collision.
The petition alleges he drove at excessive speed in Bridge of Earn and failed to negotiate a mini roundabout before heading to Dundee on the A90.
The charge alleges he deliberately collided with a Volvo V90 police car before trying to undertake another police vehicle and driving on to the verge, causing the Corsa to overturn.
The accused, who was 16 at the time of the crash, also faces a charge of failing to stop on a number of the roads when required to do so by a uniformed police officer.
It is alleged the teenager, who was not seriously injured in the incident, was driving without insurance or a driving licence, and was subject to three bail orders.
It is understood that at least one of the girls remains in hospital as a result of the injuries she sustained. All four occupants of the car were initially taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee after the crash which caused the eastbound side of the dual carriageway to be closed for several hours.
The circumstances of the incident were referred for investigation to the force watchdog, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc).
A Pirc spokesman said: “Our investigation will focus on the involvement of police officers pursuing a vehicle containing four occupants, who were subsequently taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee for treatment.
“Police Scotland referred this matter to the Pirc, as is standard in incidents of this type, and once our investigation is concluded, a report will be provided to the chief constable.”