Motorist fell asleep at the wheel

A TAXI driver who fell asleep at the wheel and crashed his car on a busy north-east trunk road has been allowed to keep his driving licence.

Ricki Kerr, 32, was driving on the A90 Aberdeen to Dundee road when he nodded off at the wheel and collided with the central reservation near Fordoun on July 5.

At Stonehaven Sheriff Court yesterday Kerr admitted careless driving.

Fiscal depute Alison Shaw said witnesses watched as his car “collided with the crash barrier and the vehicle was catapulted into the air”.

“They saw the car land and tumble on to the central reservation at least twice before coming to a rest,” she said.

Witnesses went to help and saw Kerr motionless in the driver’s seat.

Defence agent Chris Maitland said his client had “hardly been sleeping” the week before the accident.

He was caring for his heavily-pregnant wife and had recently moved house.

Kerr, who lives at 59 Dunlin Road, Cove Bay, had also been working a night shift before the accident, which happened at 7.40am.

“The car was very badly damaged but thankfully he was hardly hurt at all,” said Mr Maitland.

“It’s obviously very lucky no one else was hurt.”

Sheriff Alan Miller said: “None of us need a clearer reminder a car is a very dangerous instrument.

“You do accept you fell asleep at the wheel and you were aware of being drowsy.”

Kerr received six penalty points and was fined £140.