A court has heard how a lorry driver’s unblemished 40-year record behind the wheel came to an end with what could have been catastrophic consequences after his vehicle ploughed into a broken-down car on the A90 dual carriageway.
John McNiven had tried to avoid the crash, between Forfar and Dundee, but could not find a gap in the traffic to take evasive action to avoid the car, whose driver was thankfully sitting in safety on the roadside embankment.
At Forfar Sheriff Court on Thursday, McNiven (65), of Redalwood Road, Cambuslang, was fined £300 and had five penalty points put on his licence after admitting driving carelessly on the A90 on April 18 and causing his lorry to collide with a stationary vehicle.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told the court the incident happened around midday after a motorist, who had suffered mechanical problems, stopped her car on the road.
She initially remained in her vehicle, but after another driver noticed several cars had narrowly avoided hitting the broken-down car, she decided to leave it for her own safety while waiting for help to arrive.
“She saw an articulated lorry heading for her vehicle, which collided with it and began to push it along the carriageway,” said the fiscal.
McNiven was not in court but an agent said his client had been a lorry driver for 40 years and this was his first offence.
“The hazard lights on the car were very faint and a number of vehicles did not realise it was stationary,” said the lawyer. “He saw the car but he couldn’t get out into the other lane.”
Sheriff Veal said, “It was an error of judgment on the day with dramatic consequences, but fortunately the driver was out of the vehicle.”