Drunk driver smashed into 5 pedestrians then fled scene
A DRINK-DRIVER who mowed down five pedestrians on a popular tourist street was locked up yesterday.
Mohamed Bouhnika left the three women and two men lying badly injured after he smashed into them in September last year.
Bouhnika, 36, tried to flee the scene in Edinburgh’s Rose Street but was caught by police after his blue Ford Fiesta crashed into two cars nearby. He was arrested and found to be more than four times the drink-drive limit.
Bouhnika pleaded guilty to charges of causing injury to five people by dangerous driving and driving while over the limit when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday via video link from prison.
CCTV footage played to the court showed Bouhnika turning into Rose Street at speed. He was seen to collide with the five pedestrians in quick succession as he sped along the mainly pedestrianised street.
Bouhnika, from Edinburgh, then drove towards two police officers on patrol who were forced to jump out of the way. Prosecutor Rosie Cook told the court that the incident took place at around 12.40am on September 12 last year.
She said the first victims, Zoe Brown and James McBride, were thrown into the air after being hit from behind.
Bouhnika then struck pedestrians Cassie Reid, James Parker and Margaret Ewing.
Miss Cook said PC Keith Morrison and PC Cyprian Kroniszewski had to jump to safety as Bouhnika drove towards them.
The car was soon spotted heading up Lothian Road, where the driver smashed into two cars that had stopped at a red light.
The collision left Bouhnika’s vehicle with ‘a dislodged front
‘Very ashamed’
wheel’ and he was soon caught and arrested by police.
Miss Cook said four of the victims suffered injuries including bruising and cuts to their heads and body, while Miss Ewing suffered a fractured rib and dislocated shoulder.
Bouhnika provided a breathtest reading of 93mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 22mcg.
Solicitor Simon Collins, defending, said his client was ‘very ashamed’.
Sheriff douglas Keir deferred sentence to later this month for reports.
Bouhnika, who broke down several times during the court hearing, was remanded in custody.