Man denies crash that left teenager in coma

COURT: Dundee trial hears of victim’s horrific injuries

A man went on trial yesterday accused of leaving a teenage girl in a coma with horrific “life-threatening” injuries following an alleged high-speed hit-and-run crash.

Naomi Ahmed was left with multiple fractures to her legs, pelvis, arms, hands and ribs and was in intensive care for days after the incident.

John O’Neil yesterday denied driving dangerously and leaving Naomi, who was 19 at the time, seriously injured as well as failing to stop after the crash, driving without insurance and without a full licence.

A jury at Dundee Sheriff Court was told in a document of agreed evidence that Naomi was walking to work at the time of the crash – and that she has no memory of the incident as a result of the impact.

A witness told the first day of the trial that the “speeding” car that caused the crash stopped a short distance after the impact before “fleeing away” up another street. The car was later found abandoned there.

Depute fiscal Vicki Bell told the jury that when Naomi was found on Dundee’s Byron Street she was “unconscious and only responding to pain”.

She added: “She was covered in blood on the face and blood was on the road.

“She had a chest injury, broken bones and ribs, a significant head injury, a suspected abdomen injury and a broken leg with the bone sticking out of her lower leg.

“She was sedated and taken to Ninewells Hospital and admitted to intensive care where a CT scan revealed bleeding on the brain.”

Jennifer Knox, 28, told the court that she was sitting in her cousin’s car outside her home yards from the crash site when they saw a white Peugeot car “speeding” past.

Miss Knox said: “Then there was a very loud bang – I got out and could see something in the road that looked like a person so I went running to see if I could help.

“I noticed a car had stopped and then took off just as I reached the victim.”

The court was then shown images of the Peugeot car allegedly involved in the crash – which was missing its badge and had the number plate smashed in two.

The badge was later found at the scene and matched by forensic examiners to the car.

The trial, before Sheriff Alastair Brown, continues.