Driver dazzled by sun failed to see pedestrian

A DELIVERY driver was dazzled by the sun and failed to see a pedestrian crossing in front of his van, Oban Sheriff Court heard on Tuesday.

Alan Thomas Penman, 43, of 69 Dalaruan Street, Campbeltown, pled guilty to driving without due care and attention, and failing to see the 63 -year- old woman crossing the entrance to the BuildBase yard off Lynn Road, Oban, on September 3 last year.

Procurator fiscal Eoin McGinty said the woman was struck by the van and fell to the ground, striking her head.

She was kept in hospital for observation for two days, had to undergo a x-ray and a CT scan because there were fears about bruising to the brain; she also had a cut on the back of her head and had to take three weeks off work.

Penman was ‘attentive and apologetic’ at the scene, the fiscal added.

Mr Thornton, defence agent, said Penman, a driver with AM Transport had a clean licence and had been employed by the firm for 10 years, and was described as a ‘steady and reliable driver’.

He had just made a delivery to Tesco and was making another to BuildBase; he was driving very slowly and he was dazzled by the sun and unaware of any pedestrian as he turned into the entrance Mr Thornton added.

Penman was fined £ 300 and had six points were added to his driving licence.