Man in Perth Sheriff Court for botched suicide bid on A9

Nov 27 2009 by Alison Lowson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

SHORTLY after his car ran off the A9 in Highland Perthshire, the driver ran onto the busy dual carriageway in a botched suicide bid.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that first a lorry had to change lanes to avoid mowing down 40-year-old John Lindsay after he climbed over the crash barrier.

But then he tried to end it all again when he stepped out in front of a motorhome.

This time the bulky vehicle was unable to stop and struck Lindsay, shattering his left kneecap and breaking his ankle in two places.

He needed a walking stick to get into the dock.

The failed suicide attempt cost Lindsay, of Hampden Way, Renfrew, a £500 fine on Wednesday.

He pled guilty to running onto the A9, two miles north of the road to Trinafour, on September 20 last year, with “utter disregard” for himself and other road users.

Depute fiscal Robbie Brown said that the accused had been the driver of a car which had gone off the road about 7am.

A member of the public, who had stopped in a lay-by, saw the accused freeing himself from the vehicle.

Lindsay then walked away and police, who had been alerted, saw him in the cycle lane of the northbound carriageway.

He was then seen climbing over the barrier and stepping out in front of the two vehicles.

“There was considerable damage to the motorhome and no doubt distress to its passengers, one of whom was an eight-year-old child,” added Mr Brown.

Solicitor Neil Donaldson said that the accused and his wife had been experiencing “ongoing severe financial difficulties.”

“He had driven north to reflect and unfortunately later decided he would attempt to take his own life by walking onto the dual carriageway.”

He was now receiving counselling on a voluntary basis at a Crisis Centre in Renfrewshire.

Imposing the penalty, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said: “I have no doubt at the time you were not thinking logically.

“Nonetheless, by your actions, not only serious or fatal injury could have been sustained by you but other persons could have been seriously injured or killed.”