Pensioner led police on 111mph road chase along A9
A SPEEDING pensioner led police on a 22- mile chase along one of Scotl and’s most dangerous r oads, a court heard yesterday.
Officers had to drive at speeds of up to 111mph to try to catch Rotraud Engleitner, 65, after she sped past them on the A9.
She eventually stopped and police, who were driving with blue lights flashing, were able to arrest her.
Yesterday, Engleitner, who is originally from Austria, admitted a series of charges including driving her car at grossly excessive speed, overtaking over solid white lines and tailgaiting.
It was alleged vehicles travelling in both directions had to take evasive action to avoid collisions.
The chase was recorded on the police on-board camera and the 20-minute tape was played for Sheriff Margaret Neilson at Inverness Sheriff Court. She warned Engleitner that she could be jailed for the offence and immediately disqualified her from the road.
The sheriff said: ‘All options are open to the court.’
Fiscal depute Michelle Molley gave a commentary as the footage of the incredible journey was played, showing Engleitner ignoring the pursuing police vehicle with its emergency lights and sirens activated and preventing it from overtaking her and bringing her to a halt.
Her lawyer, David Adams, said a background report would be needed ‘as it may highlight some issues’ and reserved his comments until April 15 when the report will be before the court.
The car chase began at Daviot, eight miles south of Inverness, when the marked police car saw the Ford Fiesta speed past in excess of the 70mph limit.
Police had to accelerate to 111mph to catch up with the Fiesta but t heir r epeated attempts to overtake Engleitner failed until she pulled into the dri v e way of her home in Aviemore.
After following her for a couple of minutes, the police car switched on its warning lights, which were activated throughout the remainder of the chase.
A policeman could be heard on the tape liaising with colleagues on his radio along the route and at one point, shouting in an exasperated tone: ‘What is going on?’
Attempts to overtake failed
Police were convinced a ‘ boy racer’ was behind the wheel as they tried to catch up with the family hatchback in their powerful BMW.
An officer could be heard on the tape shouting in surprise to his colleague as he approached the Fiesta: ‘It’s a female.’
Engleitner consistently tailgated vehicles, including cars, a lorry and a caravanette, during the incident on September 24 last year. Then she accelerated to more than 90mph in the rain, driving too close to the centre line and forcing oncoming vehicles to take evasive action and move on to the roadside verge to avoid a collision.
The tape also showed her overtaking on solid white lines and on a marked area for vehicles turning right.
When she turned on to the A95 approach road into Aviemore, the police car was able to draw alongside her, but she sped off again, once more breaking the 60mph speed limit and again in the 30mph limit in the popular Speyside holiday village.
The fiscal depute said: ‘Engleitner was breathalysed but it proved negative. There were no mental or medical issues identified. The tape shows her making dangerous overtaking manoeuvres, in areas where she was not permitted to do so and forcing vehicles travelling in both directions to allow her to do it safely.
‘ She made no reply to the charge of dangerous driving.’