A young man sobbed uncontrollably on Thursday as a court heard how he ran over two workmen as they painted lines on a Fife road.
Jordan Caird downed Buckfast before getting behind the wheel of a car he had owned for just a few days. The 19-year-old had never passed a driving test when he committed the offence on July 16.
One of the men he struck remains wheelchair-bound and requires round-the-clock care.
Neil Parkes was hit head-on by the car and was thrown into the air, landing 10 metres away in bushes. He was so badly injured that medical professionals initially formed the opinion he would not survive.
He is unable to cook, clean, eat or go to the toilet without assistance and is entirely dependent on the help and time of health care professionals and family members.
Caird, of Paterson Park, Leslie, admitted a number of charges at Cupar Sheriff Court. They included drink-driving (47 mics; the legal limit is 35) and careless driving.
He also pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident, driving without an appropriate licence and motoring without insurance.
Caird was warned he faces a jail sentence after the impact of his driving was made clear to the court.
Depute fiscal Diane McIntosh described how the 19-year-old ploughed into Mr Parkes and Omer Abdulhamid as they worked on the A92 close to the Melville Lodges roundabout. They were painting lines and replacing cats eyes at the time of the incident.
Not even the presence of cones on the road, flashing arrows and floodlighting were enough to stop Caird from slamming into them as he attempted an overtaking manoeuvre.
Ms McIntosh confirmed that the accused had purchased his Peugeot 106 just a week before the incident.
“A friend had visited the accused and his brother at his address and had brought a large bottle of Buckfast with him,” she said. “They later bought more Buckfast and beer and spent the evening drinking.”
At around 10.45pm the accused, his brother and their friend decided to go for a drive. After buying petrol Caird sped off down the A92 toward Dundee.
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Ms McIntosh described how fellow motorists who were nearing the roadworks were alarmed to see Caird approaching without slowing down.
“Council workers travelling in a van in the same direction as the accused saw lights on the road and slowed down to 15mph,” Ms McIntosh said. “They realised that the lights belonged to a maintenance vehicle but, as they approached the roadworks, they became aware of the accused’s car approaching from the same direction. The vehicle did not slow and instead tried to complete an overtaking manoeuvre.”
The depute fiscal said witnesses heard a loud bang but, despite the fact he had hit the two workmen, Caird simply drove on.
“One worker (Mr Abdulhamid) was struck on the right hip and spun around and then struck on the back,” she continued. “Neil Parkes was struck head-on and was thrown into the air by the accused’s vehicle.
“The accused did not stop and Mr Parkes was thrown 10 metres into trees and bushes next to a ditch.”
Mr Abdulhamid immediately went into shock, while Mr Parkes was found to be barely breathing.
“Mr Parkes’ face was covered in blood and he was having difficulty breathing,” Ms McIntosh said. “Emergency services felt he may also be suffering from a spinal injury.”
When the accused was traced at his home a short time later, he gave a positive breath specimen and admitted he had been driving the car. He said he did not stop as he did not know what had happened.
Mr Parkes was initially treated in the intensive care unit at the Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline before being taken to the Western General in Edinburgh. He was subsequently transferred to a special care unit in Bristol.
“Medical experts felt his injuries were not survivable or that he would at least be left in a permanent vegetative state,” Ms McIntosh said.
Meanwhile, Mr Abdulhamid continues to suffer pain as a result of the collision.
Solicitor Susan Bonellie said Caird “appreciates the gravity” of the offences.
She added, “He knows a custodial sentence is likely. Mr Caird is a first offender and is employed on an ‘as-and-when’ basis as a kitchen fitter. He recently fathered a child and resides with his mother.”
Sheriff Charles Macnair deferred sentence until June 30 for reports.
“It is accurate to say that a custodial sentence is uppermost in my mind given the severity of the offence.”
Caird was released on bail pending the completion of reports.