A driver who hit a telegraph pole with such force the wood split in two has been banned from the roads.
David McLauchlin’s vehicle came to rest on its side after the crash on October 14 last year. The incident also caused a dry-stane dyke to collapse on to the A93 north of Bridge of Cally.
At Perth Sheriff Court on Monday, McLauchlin pleaded guilty to driving carelessly and driving without insurance. He also admitted failing to provide two specimens of breath for analysis while at Perth Police Station.
Depute fiscal Tina Dickie told the court witnesses had first taken notice of the 65-year-old’s vehicle because of a defect.
She said: “Witnesses observed a vehicle, which was drawn to their attention because it had a broken tail light.
“When witnesses next saw the vehicle it was past a bend in the road near to Glenkilrie Farm. They saw it was on its side in the road. They made their way over to the vehicle to help him out.
“At 8pm police officers attended and traced the accused. He stated he had been driving and he had consumed alcohol.
“The accused had struck a telegraph pole with sufficient force to shear it in two and causing a dry-stane dyke to collapse.”
McLauchlin was unable to take a road-side breath test and further attempts at Perth Police Station also failed.
Solicitor John Adams, defending, said his client’s failure to give a breath specimen was due to him suffering Q fever at the time. The bacterial disease is caught from farm animals and can cause respiratory problems.
He said: “On this day he had been carrying out work at home and went to the local pub at 6pm. An hour later he received a phone call from a farmer he does some work for.
“They explained a fence had collapsed and needed repaired to prevent the escape of sheep. Against his better judgment, after consuming two or three pints of lager, he got in his car and went to carry out that job.”
He added that McLauchlin had repaired the dry-stane dyke himself.
Sheriff Michael Fletcher banned McLauchlin, of Blacklunans, from the road for 18 months and fined him £1,200.