An offshore worker who was driving his Mercedes Benz while more than double the alcohol limit veered into the opposing lane and caused a head-on collision.
Iain Mcdonald, 38, appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted causing the crash before getting out of the car, checking the damage, waving at the other driver and running off.
The court heard that Mcdonald’s black Mercedes Benz spun 180 degrees into the opposing lane during the crash, forcing a third driver to take evasive action to avoid a second crash.
When police turned up at his home to arrest him he threatened them, telling officers his dog “would do whatever he told it to do”.
Crash caused ‘extensive damage’ to cars
Fiscal depute Stephaine Cardow told the court that at around 8am on August 6 2020, motorists were travelling eastbound on Broomhill Road, Aberdeen, when they saw a black Mercedes Benz travelling westbound at speed toward them.
“The vehicle swerved into the opposing lane and collided with the other car,” she said.
“Extensive damage was caused to both vehicles and their airbags were deployed.
“The collision caused the other vehicle to end up on the pavement and the Mercedes spun 180 degrees into the middle of the road.
“A third vehicle had to take evasive action to avoid a further collision.
“The accused then got out of his car to check the damage, waved at the other driver and ran off.”
Police later traced Mcdonald to his home address where they noted he smelled strongly of alcohol.
He then became agitated and aggressive with the officers, telling them his dog would “do whatever he told it to do”.
Upon being arrested, Mcdonald was taken to Kittybrewster Police Station where he provided a breath test reading of 46 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 22 microgrammes.
‘He accepts full responsibility for his actions’
Defence solicitor Kevin Longino told the court his client had struggled during the Covid lockdown and with a number of personal issues leading up to the incident.
He said: “Mr Mcdonald had been drinking the previous night and was not in the best frame of mind.
“He clearly accepts that he shouldn’t have been driving and accepts full responsibility for his actions.
“He hopes this will be a blip in his life as this doesn’t appear to be anything other than an isolated incident.”
Sheriff Margaret Hodge fined Mcdonald, of Morrison Drive, Aberdeen, a total of £1,550 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.
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