Overtaking led to head-on crash

Nov 14 2008 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A TOURIST drove straight into another car while overtaking on Perthshire’s A9, a sheriff court trial heard.

Miraculously, no one was killed or seriously hurt when Abdul Mobin, who claimed he failed to notice a change from dual to single carriageway, caused a head-on crash on the notorious Perth to Inverness route.

The Afghanistani, who lives in London, collided in broad daylight with a Honda occupied by two pensioners travelling in the opposite direction at around 4pm last June 14.

Stanley Hepburn (82), of Windygates, Fife, said he was driving south near Luncarty at no more than 55mph when Mobin’s Fiat “appeared out of nowhere”.

“I don’t remember much except a huge bump when another car hit me,” said Mr Hepburn.

“I managed a wee swerve to the left and the next thing I saw was the police, fire and ambulance.

“I was still in my car and had to be assisted out of it.”

His passenger, Jessie Murray (78), of Glenrothes, said she glimpsed Mobin in the wrong carriageway trying to overtake two vehicles in front of him.

“The car was only about one car-length away from us when it pulled out,” she said.

“I knew he was going to strike us but we couldn’t take evasive action, it was too quick.

“I thought, ‘this is it, I’m going to die’, and I was quite surprised to come round.

“I must have been knocked out.”

Mrs Murray, who sustained broken ribs and leg and chest injuries which still cause her pain, saw her companion clutching his chest and taking “deep, deep breaths”.

Mr Hepburn suffered heavy bruising to his chest and legs and said he has nightmares about the incident.

Both were rushed to Perth Royal Infirmary for treatment, while Mobin’s passenger, his partner Lubna Akhtar (31), was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

Neil McNaughton (78), of Edinburgh, who was travelling a short distance behind the Honda, said he witnessed “a sudden violent collision” involving a car travelling northwards.

“The Honda disappeared down an embankment and stopped by some trees,” he said.

“The driver of the Fiat was clutching his chest as though injured and lay down on the grass verge and started shaking violently.”

At Ninewells, Mobin (35) told police he was confused by the road switching from dual to single carriageway moments before the crash.

“A car overtook me and I thought both lanes were for me,” he said.

“It was only when I seen other cars that I realised it wasn’t and braked to try and stop accident.”

Mobin told the trial he was unable to get back into lane after pulling out.

“The other car overtaking confused me, it was my mistake,” he said.

Finding Mobin guilty of driving dangerously, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis banned him from the road for a year.

He also imposed a £400 fine on Mobin.