Drink-driver who ‘killed’ sign banned

Adrink-driver who “killed” a road traffic sign in an early-morning crash has been banned from the roads.

Mia Mcgair was more than four times the limit when she flattened the pole in Kennoway.

Sheriff Alastair Brown warned her that those who drink alcohol before getting behind the wheel often kill people.

He said the 33-year-old was “fortunate” she had only “killed” the street sign.

“Drink-drivers kill people,” Mr Brown said.

“If the public is lucky, the people they kill are themselves.

“But all too often the courts have to deal with cases where someone is killed while going about their business.

“In this case all you killed was a road sign.

“You were fortunate.” Mcgair’s damaged vehicle left a trail of fluid between the crash site and where it was found.

Fiscal depute Laurelle Johnstone told Kirkcaldy

Sheriff Court a member of the public called police after being woken by a crash outside his house at around 2.40am.

She said: “The 20mph sign on Denhead at the junction with Cupar Road had been hit so hard it had been flattened completely.

“There were bits of bumper scattered on the ground.

“He saw a white vehicle being driven off.

“Police officers were deployed and found a Nissan Qashqai, insecure and abandoned, in a grass field near Langside Avenue.

“It had extensive front end damage, including a leaking radiator.

“They saw a trail of liquid from the sign to where the vehicle was found.”

Officers traced Mcgair at home and she told them she had been sleeping all night.

She blamed a man for the incident.

On speaking to the man, he revealed he had come across Mcgair and offered her a lift home.

Solicitor George Harper, defending, said Mcgair had reduced her alcohol intake following a previous drinkdriving conviction and had not drunk since this incident.

He said: “She recognises that her behaviour while drinking is not acceptable.

“She continues not to drink and doesn’t feel she needs it.

“She had no recollection of driving the car but accepts that she did.

“She’s greatly remorseful and apologetic.”

Mcgair, of Kirkland Gardens, Methil, admitted driving while almost four and a half times the drinkdrive limit, failing to stop after an accident and failing to identify the driver when asked by police.

The offences took place in Kennoway and Methil on May 28 this year.

Mcgair was banned from the road for 40 months and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

She was warned that a further drink-driving conviction could see her imprisoned.

COURT: Mia Mcgair was more than four times the limit when she crashed.