Driver who hit teenagers in Wick banned for year
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A distracted driver lost control of his car which mounted the pavement in Wick town centre and hit two teenagers, a sheriff was told on Wednesday.
David McPhee (44) admitted a charge of careless driving – reduced from one of dangerous driving – and was banned for a year at Wick Sheriff Court.
He also pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and was fined a total of £1025.
The incident occurred on November 17, 2021, as McPhee, of Grant Street, Wick, was travelling from High Street into Bridge Street in what was described as a 90-degree right-hand turn.
Fiscal David Barclay said: "For some reason, his vehicle didn't straighten up and mounted the pavement on the accused's nearside. Two teenage girls walking along the pavement, in the same direction as McPhee, were struck. One of them was thrown into the air."
Her companion was momentarily pinned between the accused's vehicle and a wall. Bystanders went to the aid of the girls and the police were summoned. One of the girls was able to get back on her feet and was taken to hospital complaining of a sore leg.
"There was bruising but, thankfully, there was nothing broken," said Mr Barclay, who continued: "However, the other girl fell to the ground and was unable to move. She was also taken to hospital and given X-ray and CT scans. She was found to have nerve damage from her knee to her ankle and swelling to her left cheek and bruising to her body. Her spectacles were broken and her mobile was damaged. Her clothing had to be cut from her to allow treatment to take place."
The fiscal added that police officers had noted in their statements that McPhee was both "shocked and remorseful" over the incident and had requested that they keep him informed about how the girls were progressing in hospital.
McPhee immediately admitted having been responsible for the collision. He told the officers at the scene that he had been distracted after his mobile phone fell from the dashboard onto the pedals as he was turning into Bridge Street.
Solicitor Paul Barnett said that McPhee was concerned the phone might get jammed in the pedals and continued: "He made a decision to bend down and pick it up and his vehicle veered off the road. It seems to have been a momentary poor decision by him."
The solicitor went on: "The accused spoke to the families of the girls and had apologised to them."
Sheriff Janys Scott was told that McPhee was currently unemployed but originally had worked offshore and intended doing a refresher course and returning to that line of work. His licence was "extremely important to him" as he would require to travel to Aberdeen before flying out to a rig.
However, Sheriff Scott described McPhee's actions as "a serious loss of control" in an area where there were pedestrians.
She told him "It is such a serious careless driving that I am minded to disqualify you."
