A motorist left a pregnant woman with a brain injury after hitting a tree at nearly twice the speed limit in Methil.
James Forrester reached speeds of up to 80mph in the 30mph limit, before crashing with the woman and a young child in the car.
The speedometer of his Volkswagen Bora jammed at 56 mph, suggesting the 40-year-old was doing almost twice the limit at the point of impact.
Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard that in the aftermath he told police he thought a dodgy wheel on the newly-bought car was to blame and had to be ordered not to leave the scene.
The woman was not wearing a seat belt and suffered injuries so severe she was taken to Ninewells hospital with a police escort.
The young child was secured with just the car’s lapbelt.
The crash happened on South Road – a stretch of bend between a roundabout and the turn-off for Bayview Stadium.
Forrester admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Fiscal depute Alistair McDermid accepted the guilty plea to an amended charge, which deleted reference to injuries suffered by the youngster.
The offence can attract a prison sentence.
Witnesses rushed to help
Mr McDermid told the court: “At 6.50pm the accused, [the woman and the toddler] went to visit friends and travelled in the accused’s Volkswagen Bora, which he had purchased the day before.
“The complainer looked at the speedometer and saw it was 80 mph.
“She screamed at the accused to slow down, which he did as he approached the roundabout.
“He negotiated the roundabout and then sped up again.
“She stated that the accused was driving so fast the car skidded but she could not remember anything after that.”
A runner crossing the road and a woman in her home both witnessed the crash and rushed to the aid of Forrester and his passengers.
Forrester escaped the wreckage and the helpers were able to get the child out of the car but the woman was trapped inside.
Victim suffered brain trauma
Mr McDermid continued: “The accused stated he had just had alloys fitted and that one had come loose.
“[The woman] had a depressed skull fracture and was in a critical condition.
“She was taken to Ninewells under police escort.”
En route, the woman’s condition deteriorated and she was initially placed on a ventilator in the intensive care unit.
She was later moved to the high-dependency unit and spent a total of six weeks in hospital.
Her injuries included a “traumatic brain injury”, a fractured jaw and fluid around her spleen.
Her unborn child survived the crash.
Remanded in custody
Defence solicitor Joe Mooney said Forrester had driven the stretch of road “thousands of times”.
He added his client was aware he should not have driven the car without ensuring all passengers were properly restrained.
Forrester, of Kirkland Gardens, Methil, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving on the town’s Wellesley Road and South Street on May 17, 2020.
The charge stated he drove at excessive speed, lost control, mounted a pavement and grass verge before colliding with a tree.
He further admitted driving without insurance.
Sentence was deferred for reports and Forrester was remanded in custody.
