OAP surrenders licence after knocking down dog walker

An Angus pensioner has surrendered his driving licence after a rural road crash in which he broke a pedestrian’s ankle after he clipped her while overtaking a caravan.

Joseph Forbes stopped to help his victim after the incident on a back road near Kirriemuir in May but the severity of her injury was not apparent at that time.

Forfar Sheriff Court heard the 74-year-old driver was “mortified” to learn the outcome.

Forbes, of Jeanfield Road, Forfar, did not appear at the town’s sheriff court but admitted through a lawyer a charge of driving carelessly on the B957 near its junction with West Bog Farm, Kinnordy, and striking a pedestrian, knocking her to the ground.

Depute Fiscal Stewart Duncan said the incident took place as the complainer was out with her dog for a walk.

The accused was behind a car towing a caravan and pulled out to overtake it, but hit the woman.

He carried out an emergency stop and another driver also pulled in, but the dog walker played down the extent of her injury, which was discovered at hospital to be a broken left ankle.

Defence agent Susie Clark said Forbes has returned his licence to DVLA following the accident and had no intention of getting behind the wheel again.

“He was behind the caravan and his version of events is that it was weaving around and he pulled out to get past it,” she said.

“His victim was more concerned about his wellbeing after this and offered him assistance. so he was mortified to discover what had happened to her.

Forbes was fined £400.