A careless driver has been fined after crashing into a cyclist in Aberdeen and leaving him with a broken leg.
Cara Thomson failed to spot the man cycling home from work as she pulled out of Pittodrie Street onto Golf Road.
The 27-year-old crashed into the man, knocking him off his bike and leaving him seriously injured and requiring an operation.
But Thomson, who hopes to join the Scottish Ambulance Service, was allowed to keep her licence as a sheriff opted to hand her penalty points and a fine instead of an outright ban.
Fiscal depute Lewis Devoy told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the incident happened just before 5pm on March 23 2021 while the complainer was cycling home from his work in Portlethen.
Accused immediately stopped to help the cyclist
He said he was travelling around 30kmph as he approached the junction with Pittodrie Street.
A witness observed Thomson’s vehicle draw up to the junction and “look in both directions before, nonetheless, pulling out”.
Mr Devoy said: “She has collided with the rear nearside of the complainer’s bicycle, causing him to fall to the ground.
“The accused immediately stopped her vehicle and attended to the complainer along with other witnesses.”
Police were contacted and arrived and Thomson identified herself as the driver and provided officers with dashcam footage.
She was arrested.
The cyclist was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he was found to have fractured his leg and required an operation.
‘She simply misses him when she’s making the checks’
Thomson, of Newburgh Drive, Bridge of Don, pled guilty to a charge of careless driving.
Defence agent Gregor Kelly said: “Ms Thomson has shown the appropriate level of concern. She was deeply affected by the injuries sustained by the cyclist.
“She offers apologies and wishes him well.”
Mr Kelly added: “For whatever reason, she accepts, through an aberration, a misjudgement, she misses the cyclist.
“Clearly he’s travelling at a fair speed and she simply misses him when she’s making the checks.”
He explained Thomson was hopeful of joining the Scottish Ambulance Service, but would not be allowed to do so if she had more than four penalty points on her licence.
Sheriff Robert Carr fined Thomson £680 and handed her four penalty points.
For all the latest court cases in Aberdeen and the latest crime and breaking incidents, join our new Facebook group HERE.
