Care home worker who caused pile-up after bridge closure keeps his licence

A care home worker created a pile-up at a Fife roundabout after being surprised by heavy traffic caused by the closure of the Queensferry Crossing.

Barry Trotter rounded a corner in his Ford S-max people carrier and was confronted by the rear of a queue at the Gartarry roundabout.

He shunted a Renault Trafic van across the road and into a field and caused a Volkswagen Passat to hit a Peugeot 208 in front.

The 41-year-old was allowed to keep his licence.

Fiscal depute Azrah Yousaf told the court the crash happened during morning rush hour, at around 8am.

Mr Trotter’s solicitor, Mr Mackay, said he needed to keep his licence to allow him to take care home residents on trips.

He said: “This was a very unfortunate accident.

“On the day in question the Queensferry bridge

was inoperative because of ice.

“That caused a build-up of traffic in various locations of drivers trying to get over other bridges.”

He said his client “wasn’t driving particularly fast” but came out of a sharp bend at around 40mph and misjudged his braking”.

He added: “He is a maintenance officer at a care home and he requires to drive for his job – he has to drive between various care homes.

“He also takes residents from the care homes out in his own time.

“He is, in general terms, quite a responsible person.

“This was an unfortunate set of circumstances.”

Although initially charged with dangerous driving, Trotter admitted to driving carelessly.

Sheriff Linda Smith fined Trotter, of Wilson Street, Blairhall, £600 and endorsed his licence with four penalty points.

The Queensferry Crossing was closed on February 10 last year after several cars were hit by falling ice as much of Scotland was affected by freezing weather and heavy snow.

The span remained closed until February 12.

Barry Trotter.