Man on trial accused of running over teen who threw egg at car

The boy fractured his wrist in two places and lost bone fragment on his elbow.

Man on trial accused of running over teen who threw egg at car in Kirkintilloch Getty Images

A man is on trial accused of running over a 14-year-old boy who threw an egg at his car.

Daniel Gormal, 26, allegedly assaulted three teenage boys on a street in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, on August 2, 2021.

Prosecutors claim Gormal, of Kirkintilloch, drove a Seat Leon at speed towards the children and then pursued them.

It is claimed he went on to rev his engine before striking one of the boys’ bicycles causing him to fall off.

The charge alleges the boy struck the pavement.

It also says that Gormal may have caused the boy to fall to the ground by other means unknown to the prosecutor.

The boy is said to have been severely injured and permanently impaired as a result.

Gormal faces an alternative charge of causing serious injury to the boy by driving dangerously and at speed towards him and the two other boys.

It is said he revved his engine, pursued them and collided with the boy’s bike causing him to fall to the ground by striking a pavement or by means unknown to the prosecutor.

A second charge alleges Gormal failed to stop and give his name and address having been in the presence of an accident.

The boy who was allegedly hit told jurors on Wednesday that he and his friends were out on bikes and had bought eggs to throw at cars.

The now 16-year-old stated that he threw an egg which hit the bonnet of Gormal’s car.

He said that the car followed him before coming to a slow stop.

The boy claimed that he cycled away quickly but the car “continued towards us.”

It is then, he said, that he came off of his bike.

Prosecutor Jessica McGowan asked him for the first thing he remembered after coming off his bike.

He replied: “Just lying on the ground on my back on the pavement.”

The witness added that he believed that the bike continued to move forward on the road.

He claimed that received an “adrenaline rush” before trying to get up while holding his arm.

Ms McGowan asked if he felt the car hitting him.

He replied: “I can’t remember.”

Ms McGowan said: “How can you not remember?”

The boy said: “Because it was a rush of adrenaline, I don’t know if I jumped off my bike or not.”

The boy stated that the car drove away but his dad – who was called for help – followed it.

He said he came to realise that he knew the driver by the name “Danny.”

The boy was taken to hospital where he was put in a cast.

Callum Drummond, defending, asked the boy if he could remember if he was hit by the car.

He replied: “I can’t remember.”

A joint minute of agreement read to jurors stated that he suffered a fractured wrist in two places and lost bone fragment on his elbow.

The agreed evidence also said that Gormal was the driver of the vehicle.

PC Ian Leeson, 33, told jurors that Gormal attended Kirkintilloch police office on the night of the incident.

The witness stated: “He said he was in a road accident and he hit a boy with his car.”

Asbestos surveyor Gormal said in his evidence that he knew the boys as he was their football coach.

He claimed he was “shocked” after the egg was thrown on his car windscreen.

Gormal said he tried to clear the windscreen with the wipers and spray but it “just scrambled it”.

He claimed that he veered on the road after the egg made contact.

Gormal said: “I felt something under my car, that was when I stopped.”

He stated that he saw one of the boys run away while looking out of a clear part of the windscreen.

Mr Drummond, defending, asked his client if he deliberately pursued the boys to cause them harm.

He replied: “Definitely not.”

Gormal said that he was told by the boy’s father that he had hit his son before going to the police station.

The trial continues before Sheriff John McCormick.

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