Driver fined after South Inch horror accident

Sep 30 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A PEDESTRIAN had a metal plate inserted in her arm and received treatment for multiple fractures after a horror smash on Perth’s Edinburgh Road, at the South Inch, in the summer.

Perth Sheriff Court was told yesterday that Helen Kinmond, of Pitlock Farm Cottage, Glenfarg, was on her mobile phone as she walked towards the city centre.

Suddenly she was confronted by an out-of-control black Nissan Qashqai which had mounted the pavement and struck a rubbish bin before ploughing into her.

She was thrown over the vehicle before landing on the grass nearby.

The car then overturned, coming to rest in the middle of the road.

The emergency services were alerted and the woman was taken to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, suffering from a broken arm, pelvis, leg and knee.

She underwent surgery and had a metal plate inserted in her arm before receiving ongoing physiotherapy at Perth Royal Infirmary.

“It’s unclear at this time whether she will have any permanent or long-term effects as a result of her injuries,” according to the police report on the smash.

The car driver, 61-year-old George Duncan, of Neave Court, North Muirton, Perth, was fined £400 and had nine penalty points imposed on his licence after pleading guilty to a charge of careless driving.

The court heard that he was driving on Edinburgh Road, away from the city centre, about 2.20pm on June 26 this year.

In the back of the car were his daughter and her partner.

A comment was made about the Chinese Circus, who had set up on the Lesser South Inch, and as the accused turned round, he lost control of his car.

It crossed over to the opposite lane and as he tried to regain control, it mounted the pavement for a short distance and travelled along the grass embankment.

The pedestrian, who was using her mobile phone, looked up and suddenly saw the car in front of her.

Duncan told police that he was driving a Motability car as he has an artificial leg.

He tried to brake as the car swerved to the right but it kept going.

He was then “suddenly aware” of the female hitting the windscreen and then going over the roof.

It all “went blank” after that and his car flipped over.

A solicitor for the accused said that he had been driving an automatic car and hadn’t been speeding.