A court has heard a pensioner became distracted at a railway crossing in Angus and ignored warning lights in a “one-off moment of madness.”
Despite negotiating the Carnoustie level crossing “20,000 to 30,000 times” without incident, Robert Clarke, 75, of the town’s Bruce Drive, admitted failing to comply with the “stop” signs at the crossing on March 9 2018.
At an earlier court appearance he denied a charge of dangerous driving by ignoring a flashing red light at the railway, failing to comply to “stop” given by an intermittent red light and continuing to cross the level crossing while a passenger train was approaching, narrowly avoiding a collision with the barrier.
This charge was deserted by the Crown.
Appearing again at Forfar Sheriff Court Clarke pled guilty to an amended charge of failing to comply with the indication “stop” given by an intermittent red light signal.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told the court the incident happened at approximately 10.30am on March 9.
The red lights began to flash and the white barrier began to lower but Clarke refused to stop.
She said: “The car he was driving veered on to the opposite carriageway and under the barrier before taking a right turn.”
She added the matter was reported to the British Transport Police, the accused was investigated and he fully co-operated.
His solicitor Billy Rennie told the court: “He was distracted as he was late. He has been driving for 50 years and has lived in the town for 40 years.
“He has an unblemished record, no road traffic offences and lives with his wife.
“He has been over that crossing 20,000 to 30,000 times and has never had a problem.
“It was a one-off moment of madness by him as he became distracted.”
Referring to similar incidents at the Carnoustie railway crossing, Sheriff Gregor Murray told Clarke he would defer his sentence until he had viewed CCTV footage.
He said: “As in other cases at that crossing, CCTV generally gives a good idea of what happened.”
Sentence was deferred until September 20.
