The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Farmer tells of fatal Fife bike crash
A farmer accused of causing the death of a respected member of the Fife community could have done nothing but “close his eyes and pray” a court heard yesterday.
Roderick Baird is said to have driven his agricultural vehicle without due care or attention, causing it to collide with Calum Coulter’s motorcycle on May 8, 2010, killing him instantly.
A FARMER accused of causing the death of a respected member of the Fife community could have done nothing but “close his eyes and pray” a court heard yesterday.
Roderick Baird is said to have driven his agricultural vehicle without due care or attention, causing it to collide with Calum Coulter’s motorcycle on May 8 2010, killing him instantly.
However, advocate Shelagh Mccall said there was little or nothing her client could have done to prevent the accident.
Mr Coulter (42), of Sir Thomas Elder Way, Kirkcaldy, was a community “stalwart” who had battled cancer and served as a member of Kirkcaldy North Community Council.
Perth Sheriff Court was told the accident had taken place on a bright spring day as he enjoyed a ride around Loch Leven.
Road traffic police officer Eric Mcnee said Mr Coulter had lost control of his motorcycle on being faced with Baird’s vehicle attempting to turn into a field on the B920 Scotlandwell to Ballingry road.
He said there was evidence Mr Coulter had attempted an overtaking manoeuvre, only to then apparently spot Baird was beginning a right turn and apply his brakes, locking his wheels.
He lost control of his vehicle which slid onto its side before striking a grass verge as it careered towards a field.
That collision changed the direction of the slide, sending the bike and rider back into the road where they were involved in a collision with the tractor.
The motorcycle collided with the vehicle’s metal bucket before continuing on down the road, while Mr Coulter’s motorcycle helmet struck one of the vehicle’s nearside tyres.
The farmer told police he had been travelling home in his just after 2pm.
He said he had checked his rear view mirror and having seen no other vehicles on the road had begun to turn right into a field where he believed his brother was working.
“I was partially across the road, turning into the field, when I saw a motorcyclist sliding across the road,” he told officers.
“I don’t know whether he was attached to the motorcycle at the time.
“At no point did I see him vertical. There was no time to move and he collided with the front bucket.
“I got out and immediately called the emergency services.”
Baird told officers he believed the motorcyclist may have been travelling too fast at the time and said he knew the road was popular with riders.
PC Mcnee said that by his calculations – a “best estimate” – Mr Coulter had been travelling at between 54 to 67mph prior to the collision.
However, after being challenged by advocate Shelagh Mccall the officer admitted the motorcycle could have been travelling faster.
He accepted that as an advanced motorcyclist himself he would not have attempted such an overtaking manoeuvre when faced with a slow-moving agricultural vehicle.
PC Mcnee also accepted Ms Mccall’s suggestion that there was little her client could have done to avoid the collision, agreeing that by the time the bike was sliding towards him he could have done little but “close his eyes and pray.”
He also said he had no other criticism of the accused’s driving.
First on the scene following the accident was Stewart Colquhoun (47) from Glenrothes.
“I thought that what had been carried in the bucket had been dropped on the road,” Mr Colquhoun said.
“As I got closer I stopped and got out as I could see that it was a man lying in the road and I told my wife to call 999.”
Baird, of Strathaird, Lochgelly, denies that on May 8 last year, on the B920 Scotlandwell to Ballingry road, about one mile south of the A911 Scotlandwell to Leslie road, he caused the death of Calum Coulter by driving an agricultural vehicle without due care and attention and caused it to collide with the motorcycle driven by Mr Coulter, who was so severely injured that he died.
The trial before Sheriff Lindsay Foulis continues today.