A HIGH-SPEED drive through the north-east countryside by three young motorists ended in two crashes, a court heard yesterday. The trio sped together along the A950 Peterhead-Mintlaw road in near darkness on March 9 this year.
One driver, 21-year-old Lewis Grant, lost control of his car at a bend of nearly 90 degrees, skidded on to a grass verge and hit a tree. His vehicle bounced back on to the road – directly in the path of Michael Buchan, the second driver.
The 21-year-old swerved to avoid his friend’s wrecked car and hit a wall.
Badly-injured Grant spent several days in hospital. Tamara Wyllie, a passenger in his car, had whiplash injuries and bruising. Buchan was also injured, but refused treatment from paramedics called to the scene at an area known as the Flushing Straight.
Yesterday, the two drivers from Peterhead appeared at the town’s sheriff court and admitted their parts in the crashes. Grant, of 55 Cairntrodlie, pleaded guilty to driving dangerously at excessive speeds. He also admitted driving without a full licence, insurance or MoT.
Buchan, of 24 Landale Road, admitted driving carelessly at excessive speed.
Fiscal depute Ian Warburton said that Buchan, Grant and another unnamed driver set off from Balmoor Industrial Estate, a popular haunt for young car enthusiasts. The three drivers were heading in the same direction together on a rural stretch which is known as a hot-spot for speeders, the court heard.
Mr Warburton said: “The three cars were travelling together at excessive speeds. There were a number of overtaking moves.”
He said Grant accelerated away from the other two after about 10 minutes, and spun out of control as he took a left-hand bend.
Sheriff Marysia Lewis told the pair: “We are all aware that there is a great problem with serious accidents on roads in the north-east.
“The rate of fatalities here is increasing. I don’t regard that this matter is at the lower end of the scale.”
Buchan was fined £500 and six penalty points were added to his licence. Sentence was deferred on Grant for background reports until December 11. He has been banned from driving in the meantime.
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