Driver spared prison after A9 collision

A joiner avoided a prison sentence after admitting seriously injuring a workmate as he drove along a dual carriageway the wrong way.

Andrezej Tokarz of Cantray, Croy, appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday for sentence after pleading guilty last month to dangerous driving on the A9 near Daviot on September 11 last year.

Ordering him to do 225 hours of unpaid community work and banning him from driving for four years, Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood told him: “Dangerous driving takes many forms but I take into account that

“I understand that his work colleague has forgiven him”

this was a single act, albeit with horrendous consequences.”

The 28-year-old suffered a broken leg in the head-on collision between his Renault Scenic and a four-wheel drive vehicle on the northbound carriageway. His friend, Batholmiej Akowicz, sustained a serious head injury.

The court was told Tokarz had travelled south for about 660 yards before realising he was on the wrong side.

Both vehicles took evasive action but couldn’t avoid crashing into each other.

Defence lawyer Rory Gowans said the consequences would live with his client for the rest of his life.

“He accepts he has to be punished and he wishes he had done something else on the night. I understand that his work colleague has forgiven him,” he said.

He said Tokarz had a job in Amsterdam and intends moving there with his family.

He added: “But he is prepared to put that on hold until this has been dealt with.”