Accused injured teenagers

TWO girls were l ucky to escape serious injury when they were struck by a van at a Perth crossing and thrown into the air.

Driver Scott Whyte, of Hermitage Drive, Perth, ran a red light at the A85 junction and ploughed into the 13-year-olds.

Dashcam footage showing the moment of impact was played at Perth Sheriff Court.

The clip, filmed from i n s i d e W h y t e ’s c a b , showed the windscreen repairman driving with loud dance music playing on his stereo.

He struck the two girls in the middle of the road, sending t hem upside down.

Whyte is seen going to the youngsters’ aid. By good fortune, the accident happened near a stopped ambulance.

Whyte, 31, appeared in the dock for sentencing, having previously admitted a charge of dangerous driving on January 7 last year.

He pled guilty to failing to keep a proper lookout as he motored along the A85, near Huntingtower.

Whyte did not comply with a red light and collided with the two girls, who were both injured.

Sheriff Francis Gill told Whyte: “It is fortunate that the consequences of your actions were not more severe.

“We heard that t he mental health of one of the children was affected.”

Whyte was banned from driving for a year and must resit his test to get back his licence.

He was also fined £600. The court heard that while the girls were not seriously i njured, one was left traumatised and suffered flashbacks.

Whyte had i ni t i al l y denied the charge but admitted dangerous driving after being shown his own dashcam footage.

Scott Whyte