Driver injured girl, six
Woman fined for leaving child injured after collision
A careless driver who drove through a red light and hit a six-year-old schoolgirl as she tried to cross the road has been allowed to keep her licence.
Brenda Murray failed to stop at the crossing on Clippens Road, Linwood, on January 27 last year, resulting in her hitting the youngster with her car.
Murray, of Scarffe Avenue, Linwood, sent the schoolgirl flying into the air and crashing back down onto the bonnet of her blue Renault Clio, leaving her with bruising to her arm and body.
After getting out to apologise to the girl’s mother, Murray then drove off without giving the woman her details.
The 52-year-old pled guilty to driving without due care and attention and hitting the youngster when she appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court yesterday.
A careless driver who hit a six-year- old girl with her car and sent her flying into the air as she tried to cross the road with her mum has been allowed to keep her licence.
Brenda Murray failed to stop at a red light and drove straight through the crossing on Clippens Road in Linwood while the mum was crossing with her children.
Murray failed to see the woman and two children, forcing the mum to jump out of the way as Murray drove her blue Renault Clio through the crossing on January 27 last year.
However, the young schoolgirl was unable to get out the way, resulting in Murray hitting her, causing her to fly into the air before crashing down onto the bonnet and falling back onto the road.
The 52-year-old - who told the court she “simply didn’t see” the family - then drove off after stopping to apologise and failed to leave any details with the mother.
Murray, of Scarffe Avenue, Linwood, appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court yesterday where it was heard the woman and children stepped out onto the road after waiting for the green man at the crossing around 5.30pm.
The procurator fiscal depute said: “They got about halfway across the road when the accused’s vehicle was heard approaching.
“It came onto the crossing and the woman jumped out of the way but the front of the vehicle clipped her child and threw the child up in the air and then on to the bonnet and then on to the roadway.
“The accused continued up the road a short distance and the stopped and got out at that point.
“She apologised but didn’t provide any details then drove off.
“A passer-by photographed the car and that photograph was used to report the incident.
“The child was taken to hospital and was found to have bruising to her elbow and waist.
“An x- ray was carried out to ensure there were no fractures.
“The police then traced the accused from the picture of the vehicle and she identified herself as the driver at that time.”
Murray pleaded guilty to driving her car without due care and attention, failing to comply with traffic signals, driving onto a crossing while failing to observe pedestrians on the crossing who were forced to take evasive action and colliding her car with a sixyear-old girl to her injury.
The mum-of-two also admitted failing to report the incident to police at the time.
Murray’s defence solicitor Jonathan Manson said she had believed the passer-by had been with the mum and children involved and had given her details to them before leaving the scene which she thought was “sufficient”.
He said: “She thought the passerby was involved in the incident and she got the photograph taken and provided her name and address to this person.
“She thought that would be sufficient.
“What I understand is that there was large white van parked on the opposite side of the road partially on the pavement, meaning that was obstructing her view of them crossing the road.
“She simply didn’t see them because they crossed behind the van.
“She stopped as soon as reasonably practical.
“The passer- by came up and asked her for her name and address.
“She obviously panicked slightly but did not drive off into the sunset.”
Sheriff David Pender told Murray - who has no previous convictions - that she would be fined £ 320 for the charge of hitting the youngster and also added eight penalty points to her licence.
The sheriff also admonished Murray in relation to the charge of failing to report the incident.
The vehicle clipped the child and threw her up in the air, then onto the bonnet and roadway