Driver blamed police for Selkirk crash
Ally McGilvray • Published 14 Jun 2011 09:28
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A 36-YEAR-OLD motorist smashed into the back of a stationary car in the Borders - and then blamed police for the crash.
Fish factory worker Andrejs Vitolins was driving his Peugeot on the A7 between Galashiels and Hawick when he crashed into the back of a Renault Clio in Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk.
He claimed he failed to see the car in front had stopped to allow a bus, travelling in the opposite direction, to overtake cars parked at the side of the road because he was distracted by two police officers carrying out a speed check in the area.
Vitolins, of Duke Street, Hawick, pled guilty to a charge of careless driving shortly before he was due to stand trial at the Justice of the Peace Court of the Scottish Borders in Selkirk on Thursday. He had originally pleaded not guilty.
The Latvian national, who works at Farne Salmon in Duns, also admitted a separate charge of driving without an MOT following the smash on February 1 around 4.45pm.
His solicitor Joe Boyd said: "The presence of the police officers distracted him long enough not to realise the car in front of him had stopped."
The court heard the driver of the Clio, and her passenger, suffered pains to their neck and back following the smash. And both vehicles were damaged.
However, the police officers who witnessed the crash quickly rushed to their aid.
Procurator Fiscal Tessa Bradley said: "The witness said she saw the accused driving behind her in her mirror and realised he wasn't slowing down but the bus in front had already begun to overtake so there was nothing she could do."
Justice of the Peace John Burns fined Vitolins a total of £200 and added three penalty points to his driving licence. Passing sentence, he warned him: "I think you should be aware driving without an MOT is a serious offence."
This article appeared in Border Telegraph 14 Jun 11
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