72-year-old butcher caused head-on crash by driving on wrong side of road

Perth Sheriff Court: Alexander Crombie drove on the wrong side of the road.

A 72-year-old butcher caused a head-on crash while driving on the wrong side of the road.

Alexander Crombie hit a pedestrian before ploughing head first into an oncoming car.

The semi-retired butcher told police at the scene of the accident that he had been caught in the glare of the sun as he tried to pass a row of parked cars.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that one of the victims, Denise McMonaigle, had been injured and suffered hair loss as a consequence of the accident.

Crombie told the court he had no real explanation or recollection about what happened and could only remember coming round with his head in his deployed airbag.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis previously ordered the pensioner to take a lesson with a driving instructor so his general fitness to drive could be assessed.

On Wednesday he was told that Crombie had been assessed as fit to drive, but was having further medical tests.

Crombie, of Claremont Road, Edinburgh, admitted driving carelessly and in the wrong lane in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, on March 18.

He admitted hitting pedestrian Stuart Higgins and a car occupied by Kevin, 31, and Denise McMonaigle, 30.

Fiscal depute Robbie Brown said: "One person was clipped by the vehicle as it went past. The other vehicle had nowhere to go. They tried to slow down but there was a head-on collision with the accused on the wrong side of the road. It's not known why he was on the wrong side of the road. The only explanation offered at the time was that he had been dazzled by the sun. He had simply kept going. Mr McMonaigle had whiplash injuries and potential kidney damage. Mrs McMonaigle had whiplash, a chipped bone in her thumb possibly requiring surgery, and breathing difficulties because of a possible hairline chest fracture. She had stress-related ailments subsequently, one of which was alopecia."

Solicitor Harry Boyle, for Crombie, said: "He apologises very much. He has been driving since he was 17 and now he is 72. He left his holiday home in Blair Atholl that morning and went for a drive. His last recollection is that he was driving southbound on the main road in the correct carriageway. He has no recollection between that point and his airbag deploying."

Crombie was fined £500 and had eight penalty points put on his licence.

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