An uninsured motorist who drove the wrong way over the Tay Road Bridge caused a head-on smash that left two people injured.
Robbie Reilley was heard saying “I’m away to drive off” after the collision on the Fife roundabout at the southern end of the bridge on September 18 2023.
A woman suffered a head wound that will leave a scar, while the driver of the other vehicle needed months of therapy for a hand injury.
Reilley, 29, who has a previous drink-driving conviction, is awaiting sentencing after he admitted a charge of causing serious injury through dangerous driving.
Lit a cigarette after crash
Dundee Sheriff Court heard how a contraflow system was in operation on the bridge while works were being carried out.
The victims, in a Volkswagen Polo, were in the car park adjacent to the bridge at Newport-on-Tay at around 12.15am before driving home.
Fiscal depute Andrew Brown said: “The complainer was continuing on the left lane and saw headlights coming towards him.
“He was shocked and tried to brake and tried to slow down.
“The car driving towards him tried to swerve and hit the driver’s side of his car head-on.
“He felt the impact of this and got out of the car.”
One of the passengers of Reilley’s car, also a Volkswagen Polo, was heard to say of the injured woman: “She’s got a massive head wound.”
Reilley had previously intimated he intended to drive off and was seen nonchalantly lighting a cigarette before leaving the scene.
It later emerged that he was not insured to drive the car.
Injuries
The woman suffered a vertical, 5cm cut across her forehead which would likely leave a scar.
The man’s hand injury took months to heal with the court hearing how he still replays the incident in his head while driving and before he sleeps.
Reilley, of Walnut Crescent in Methil, pled guilty to causing the crash on September 18 2023 at the Tay Bridge roundabout as well as driving without insurance and failing to stop.
Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith continued Reilley’s bail ahead of sentencing next month where a social work report will be available.
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