A rally driver suffered life-changing injuries in a collision with a car – as he walked to a party after competing in an event.
Sutherland gamekeeper Steve Fraser had been taking part in the Snowman Rally in February and had been socialising in Inverness before the near-fatal incident in the city.
He was struck by drunk and disqualified driver Andrei Sinzieanu, who was working as a joiner in Inverness, on the city’s Friar’s Bridge in the early hours of February 19.
Sinzieanu then drove off, leaving Mr Fraser for dead, bleeding on the road. He then packed his cases and tried to escape south – but he was followed by a motorist suspicious of Sinzieanu’s erratic driving and damaged VW Passat.
The 26 year old now faces “a lengthy custodial sentence” after Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood remanded him in custody until next month for a background report.
The court heard Ian Freer was returning from work, saw Sinzieanu’s car and informed the police of its route. Sinzieanu was intercepted by police on the A9 at Dalmagarry.
The impact of the 35 year old smashed Sinzieanu’s windscreen, leaving blood on it as well as one of Mr Fraser’s shirt buttons.
Mr Fraser was catapulted over the car and shattered the rear window before landing unconscious on the road, bleeding heavily from his head.
Mr Fraser sustained serious life threatening injuries, requiring immediate surgery. He was in hospital until March 25.
His injuries included head trauma and internal bleeding; a complex liver laceration; contusions to his right lung; displacement of his sternum; fractured ribs right side; fractured right leg; fractured right arm and dislocated; fractures to his right side hip; lacerations to face, both hands and forearms.
He suffered bone loss, skin grafts, scarring and his wounds required insertion of metal plates and screws. Mr Fraser also had to learn to walk again.
Fiscal depute Michelle Molley told Inverness Sheriff Court that the victim is unfit to continue his employment as a gamekeeper for the foreseeable future and is currently on state benefits for him and two dependants.
Yesterday Sinzieanu admitted six charges – drunk driving, dangerous driving, being a disqualified driver, having no insurance, causing serious injury to Mr Fraser, and attempting to pervert the course of justice by trying to avoid arrest.
Ms Molley said that he told police he had drunk a bottle of whisky in a four and a half hour pub crawl in the city.
Mr Fraser was with his friend, Colin Campbell walking and he was struck as the pair crossed the dual carriageway.
The emergency services were called and found Mr Fraser still unconscious with blood pouring from a head wound.
As Sinzieanu fled from the scene, witnesses saw his car hitting the kerb several times.
When he was initially breathalysed by police, he was almost five times the permitted level of alcohol in his breath.
He told police “I was driving and he just jumped in front of me. So that’s why I ran. I just saw him when he jumped. It was too late to stop. I was scared and I just ran. There was lots of people throwing stuff at me. I panicked when I heard the impact.”
Inverness oil worker Iain Freer played a pivotal role in the police capture of Sinzieanu.
He first spotted the car at Harbour Road roundabout after clocking off the night shift at the city’s harbour area.
The 53-year-old said his suspicions were aroused when he saw the driver duck down into the foot well, while noticing some damage to the front windscreen.
He chased as the car sped off up Harbour Road, bumping kerbs, and pursued the car as it twice circled the Millburn Roundabout before veering up Old Perth Road.
Mr Freer, of Milton of Leys, added: “He did a u-turn at the entrance to an office block car park and I stopped, so that we were facing each other. I saw damage to the windscreen and knew he had hit something or someone. I phoned the police and he shot off.”
Mr Freer stayed on the phone with a police operator and followed the driver south on the A9 for about 12 miles south before he was intercepted by four police cars.
Road policing officers from Dingwall sent Mr Freer a letter and visited him in person to offer their thanks.
He added: “Some people might turn a blind eye to this but I thought it was worth my while and, at the end of it, I am glad I did phone the police.”
