Woman ‘can’t go in car’ after horrific A90 accident with lawyer

Court hears of ‘misjudgment’ that ended in woman’s injuries

An Angus woman was left with lifechanging injuries following a horrific A90 accident involving a senior Tayside lawyer.

Robert Phillips from Dundee was driving on the road when he hit the back of Rona Valentine’s car as she left a slip road at Lochlands junction.

The Forfar carer’s Mini Cooper ploughed into a lamppost and the crash left her in critical condition, facing a four-month stay in hospital.

She had been on the way to Ninewells Hospital for treatment of her son George Carnegie’s spinal infection. He suffered a broken shoulder in the accident on November 19 last year.

Phillips, who was driving south for choir practice in the city, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court to face trial over dangerous driving to injury, a rare matter which does not to involve a jury.

The 35-year-old pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving, which was accepted by the Crown. Imposing six penalty points and fining him £450, Sheriff Gregor Murray told Phillips: “I make it clear to you that sentencing must reflect the quality of the careless driving, not to apportion blame or compensate Mrs Valentine or her son.”

Depute fiscal Stewart Duncan said Mrs Valentine was leaving Lochlands junction when Philips’ car “clipped” hers.

“Mrs Valentine initially had three fractured ribs, a fractured cheekbone and a punctured lung, suffers from posttraumatic stress disorder and reports flashbacks and nightmares since the incident,” he said. “She receives daily home help visits to help with things like getting showered and dressed.”

Defence QC David Moggach said the crash happened due to a “misjudgment” on his client’s part.

He said: “He ended up breaking his collarbone, he sustained injury too. He is a hugely responsible and careful individual.

“He couldn’t be more remorseful. He is from an impeccable background and you couldn’t meet a more unlikely man to appear in the dock.”

Mrs Valentine, 61, said: “I can’t go back in the car after that. It’s too much. I don’t hold it against him, accidents happen but it would have been nice to have a letter or something saying sorry.”

He couldn’t be more remorseful. You couldn’t meet a more unlikely man to appear in the dock

Rona Valentine suffered fractured ribs and a fractured cheekbone after the accident on the A90 with Robert Phillips, right.