Unmanned car rolled along a street and crashed into other vehicles… Then the driver left the scene

A man appeared in court after his car rolled along a street, driverless, and crashed into parked cars.

Before Kevin Smith, 49, could catch up with his runaway vehicle it had crashed into parked cars further down Rockwell Crescent in Thurso, Wick Sheriff Court was told yesterday.

Fiscal Fraser Matheson said that it wasn’t clear what had caused the accident but it appeared that handbrake had not been left in the ‘on’ position.

Smith, who was on his rounds taking gas meter readings, on November 25, caught up with his car and drove away, but was traced later by the police.

He admitted failing to stop and provide his details to the owners of the damaged parked vehicles and failing to report the accident to the police who subsequently traced him.

Smith, of Calder Square, Castletown, pleaded guilty by letter.

He incurred five penalty points and was fined £400 by Sheriff Andrew Berry who commented that it was “an unusual scenario” for someone engaged in their daily employment.