Trucker escapes driving ban after head-on crash

Lorry driver carried on after serious accident, saying he was unaware of it

A lorry driver caused a head-on collision between two cars – then continued on his way to deliver to Amazon.

James Davidson’s lorry struck a Mini, sending into the opposing carriageway and the driver suffered severe injuries in the crash, near the Forth Road Bridge in Fife.

However, as two doctors stopped to help the driver, Davidson, of Airdrie, carried on his journey.

He claimed that from his “elevated” position behind the wheel he had not seen the Mini being propelled across in front of him.

Davidson, 48, of Woodside Street, Chapelhall, Airdrie, escaped a driving ban when he appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on September 16 2016 on the Forth Road Bridge and the M90 northbound at Ferrytoll he drove a lorry without care and attention by driving excessively close to a car being driven by Craig Darling. Sheriff Craig Mcsherry fined Davidson £1,000 and imposed nine penalty points on his licence.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said, “At this time there were considerable roadworks around the bridge and a 40mph limit was in place.

“It would appear that the near side of lorry was in very close proximity with the car and then a collision took place.

“The Mini was then broadsided in front of the lorry and propelled across the carriageway into oncoming traffic.

“It was struck by an oncoming vehicle and Mr Darling’s car sustained considerable damage.

“He suffered very serious, lifechanging injuries and was in hospital for several weeks.

“It was fortunate that there were two doctors whose journeys were halted by the accident and they were able to treat Mr Darling until the emergency services arrived.

“His injuries included fractured ribs, a major haemorrhage, there was a puncture of a lung and a laceration to his liver.

Davidson told officers he was not aware of the accident or of striking any vehicle.

Defence solicitor Fraser Mckinnon said: “That remains his position, that he was unaware of the collision.”

He said his client had driven for 31 years without previous offending and remains in employment as a driver. The Queen has been joined by the Duke of Cambridge, pictured and the Princess Royal at a special ceremony in Edinburgh.

She attended the Thistle Service at St Giles’ Cathedral at the end of a week of official engagements in Scotland.

The ceremony installed businessman and philanthropist Sir Ian Wood and Sir Richard Scott, the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, as new Knights of the Order of the Thistle. Picture: Getty.