Wick driver sparked major search operation after fleeing accident scene
A driver sparked a full-scale emergency after he left the scene of an accident, Wick Sheriff Court heard.
The land, air, and sea search began after police became concerned for Andrew MacKillop (37) after they found his upturned Corsa and traces of blood at the crash scene.
Police, coastguards, a mountain rescue unit, and a helicopter with thermal imaging, were called out, and farm buildings were checked, during a search that lasted for several hours before McKillop turned up at his mother's home.
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McKillop admitted a charge of careless driving and failing to remain at the accident scene to give his details.
Sheriff Neil Wilson was told that the accused had left his home in Green Road, Wick, following a row with his wife, at around 11pm on December 23 last year.
Fiscal Depute Grant McLennan said that MacKillop lost control of his car on the A882 having earlier overtaken a vehicle at speed when it was unsafe, in slushy road conditions.
The vehicle drove through a hedge and hit a wall before returning to the roadway, coming to rest on its roof.
Mr Maclennan said that around 3am, police received a phone call from MacKillop's mother who said that her son was at her house.
Police officers took the accused, who admitted he had been driving the car, to Caithness General Hospital.
Sentencing MacKillop, Sheriff Wilson observed that the charge had been reduced from dangerous driving to one of careless but was at the top of the latter level.
The sheriff said he regarded the fact that MacKillop had not remained at the scene as "a very serious charge" that could have attracted a prison sentence.
He told the accused: "You fled the accident scene and wasted several hours of the emergency services knowing that they were searching for you."
MacKillop was fined £300 and ordered to pay the emergency services compensation of £600.
