Driver ‘at the top end’ of danger scale hit vehicle

Car crashed into coastguard vehicle while they responded to an emergency call

A dangerous driver who crashed into a coastguard vehicle responding to an emergency Angus call-out could be electronically tagged.

Lewis Forbes has already been banned from the road and was warned by a sheriff his offence on the busy A92 coast road was “right at the top end of the scale”.

The 31-year-old was also under the influence when the crash happened between Arbroath and Montrose last August.

Forbes, of Provost Reid’s Road, Montrose, appeared before Sheriff Gregor Murray at Forfar Sheriff Court having previously admitted driving dangerously and at excessive speed on the A92 near Dunninald on August 20 last year, losing control of his vehicle and colliding with an oncoming coastguard vehicle, which had its emergency lights and sirens activated.

The accused then also hit another car, causing damage to all of the vehicles involved and injured a male occupant.

Sentence had been deferred on Forbes for the preparation of a criminal justice background report but Sheriff Murray said the social work interview had highlighted a shortage of sentencing options.

“As dangerous driving cases go, yours is right at the top end of the scale,” he told Forbes.

“I can’t fine you because you have no money and you are not suitable for unpaid work.”

Sheriff Murray continued the case for a month for the preparation of a further criminal justice report and a Restriction of Liberty Order assessment.

This means it could lead to Forbes being made the subject of a tagging order.

Interim disqualification was previously imposed by the court and the length of the accused’s driving ban will be set when he returns to court on July 25.