A lorry driver whose articulated truck smashed through a north-east couple’s living room will stand trial next week accused of careless driving.
Michael Henderson escaped with only a few scratches after his 40-tonne vehicle overturned and ploughed into the Lonmay home of Alex and Doris Smith.
The accident happened at a sharp bend on the A90 Fraserburgh-Peterhead road last summer.
Yesterday, 54-year-old Henderson, from Stirlingshire, appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court and faced allegations he was driving without due care and attention on June 3.
It is alleged he drove at excessive speeds, resulting in a failure to negotiate a bend, causing the vehicle to leave the carriageway and collide with the Smiths’ home, causing damage.
His defence agent, solicitor John Adam, confirmed that Henderson continued to deny the charge and was ready to go to trial a week today.
He said a large number of photographs of the accident would be submitted as evidence, including images taken by Henderson.
Mr Adam added that evidence from some witnesses could be agreed and said it was not in dispute that Henderson was the driver at the time.
The trial was originally scheduled to take place in April, but was delayed because solicitors representing Henderson said they needed more time to prepare their case.
Mr and Mrs Smith, who were at home at the time of the crash, could still be called as witnesses.
Speaking after the accident, Mr Smith, 68, said he had been in the kitchen when the lorry crashed.
His wife was in the living room doing cross-stitching and watching TV.
He said they both felt lucky to have escaped unharmed. It is thought the collision caused about £20,000 of damage to the Smiths’ property.
A runaway cement mixer hit the same house about 30 years ago.
The crash last year led to fresh calls for a review of safety on the busy commuter route.
In September, a 42-year-old Fraserburgh motorists died after a two-car collision near the same spot.
At the end of last year, Lonmay residents met transport chiefs to discuss safety options, which included electronic chevron barriers.
