A Dundee lorry driver lost his job with a national company after he was involved in a spectacular accident with a tractor and six prize cows on the A90.
A father and daughter from Brechin needed hospital treatment after the incident near Glamis on July 12, in which cattle were thrown on to the road and under a trailer.
John Hamilton, of Victoria Street, appeared for sentence at Forfar Sheriff Court on Thursday having previously admitted a charge of driving without due care and attention by letter.
The court had heard how the 44-year-old driver, formerly an employee of catering firm Brakes, pushed the tractor off the road after following it for a short distance at 5.15pm on a Friday.
Heather and Arthur Duff were driving in the nearside lane southbound, near the Quilko junction. The accused was also driving south.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said Hamilton was driving a white Mercedes heavy goods vehicle and the Duffs were driving a green John Deere tractor with a container carrying six show cows.
It is understood these were headed to the Kirriemuir Agricultural Show.
As the Duffs travelled, the accused began to narrow the gap, until it pushed the trailer.
This caused the tractor and the cattle float to plunge down an embankment, scattering the cattle.
Ms Drummond said: “On the police’s arrival at the locus the accused was still sitting in a state of shock.”
Both the Duffs suffered light injuries during the incident.
Defence agent Brian Bell his client had no recollection of the crash itself.
“Even today he cannot explain why the accident happened,” he added.
Mr Bell said Hamilton’s lorry was limited in its speed at 51mph, which was later checked by police. They could not find any defect with his vehicle.
He added he suspected the tractor would have been driving at no more than 25mph.
Mr Bell said Hamilton had worked for his former employer for more than three years, and was dismissed on October 18 after being suspended.
Disqualifying Hamilton from driving for four months and fining him £275, visiting sheriff Marion MacDonald said: “I am concerned you are not able to explain how the accident happened.”