Large fine and ban for park crash new driver

Petrie, who lost control of her car within hours of passing her test, admitted the charge of dangerous driving

An 18-year-old nursery worker who left her friend with horrific injuries when the car she was driving, at up to five times the speed limit just hours after passing her driving test, collided with a tree has been spared jail.

Just hours after Leah Petrie passed her test on June 8 2016 she picked up her friend Martin McNab, 19, and a 17-yearold girl who cannot be named for legal reasons.

She led a convoy of cars through Camperdown Park, which has a 10mph speed limit, at speeds of up to 50mph before losing control on a bend and ploughing into a tree.

Passers-by managed to pull Petrie and Mr McNab from the wreckage of the Ford Ka, but the other girl was unconscious and trapped.

Depute fiscal depute Kirsten Letford told Dundee Sheriff Court: “Mr McNab suffered seatbelt injuries, a sore back and severe bruising to his shin.”

“The other passenger was unconscious and slumped towards the driver’s side. It is unclear whether she had been wearing her seat belt or not.

“She was taken to accident and emergency at Ninewells Hospital where

“It is estimated she was travelling at 50mph when she lost control, causing the car to weave then leave the road on a slight lefthand bend and colliding with a tree and spinning around. DEPUTE FISCAL KIRSTEN LETFORD

it was established she had suffered a head injury, a fractured pelvis and palsy to her right side.

“She was transferred to Victoria Infirmary in August and discharged from their care in December.”

She added: “She is due to see a doctor in Edinburgh soon to check for any brain injury.”

Mrs Letford added: “The road is a narrow single track leading from the entrance to Camperdown Park to Camperdown House and has a 10mph speed limit.

“The two cars behind the accused were occupied by her friends.

“It is estimated she was travelling at 50mph when she lost control, causing the car to weave then leave the road on a slight left-hand bend and colliding with a tree and spinning around.”

Petrie, of Broughty Ferry, pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving committed on June 8 last year.

Defence solicitor David Duncan said: “I would describe this as a relatively short period of driving rather than a sustained period at a number of locations.

“I can’t see that placing her in custody would in any way assist the complainer or her family in any way. “They are still in contact to this day.” Sheriff Alastair Carmichael imposed a fine of £2,400 and disqualified Petrie from driving for a year.

He said: “This was a bad piece of driving that had dreadful consequences for your passenger.

“It was a misjudgment over a relatively short period of time, perhaps due to your lack of experience.

“Putting it all together, I can deal with this without the need to impose a custodial sentence.”

Leah Petrie with her pass certificate. Just hours later she had collided with a tree after driving at speeds of up to 50mph in Camperdown Park, injuring her passengers, and costing her her licence.