A Dundee United starlet’s drive to training ended in disaster after crashing into a 15-tonne army truck on a busy Fife road.
Jack Newman, 19, overtook a car containing off-duty police officers and a bus, before colliding with an army support vehicle on the A919 St Michaels to Leuchars road last year.
Only the wing mirror of Newman’s white Audi was damaged in the incident, which happened as the teenager was on his way to training with the Tannadice side.
Newman, who signed for United in July 2020, has now been banned from the roads and ordered to sit the extended driving test after pleading guilty at Dundee Sheriff Court to dangerous driving.
The court heard how Newman had been left “shaken” by the incident and regrets his actions.
Sheriff Grant McCulloch said: “It may well have left you shaken but other people seeing you whizzing past must have been pretty shaken.
“The bus driver, two off-duty officers seeing what’s unfolding in front of them.
“The occupants of the army vehicle would have got a fright as well.”
Drove into path of army vehicle
Prosecutor Larissa Milligan revealed how the road conditions were clear and dry prior to the incident, at around 9.30am on September 29.
She explained how the two off-duty police officers became aware of Newman overtaking them as their vehicle entered the national speed limit area.
“They assumed the accused would pull into the space between their car and the Stagecoach bus.
“The road was on a slight incline and going into a left-hand bend but the accused did not do this and continued to overtake the bus.
“Witnesses in the army vehicle noticed the accused travelling in their direction.
“The driver applied the brakes and moved as close as possible to the verge to avoid a collision.
“The accused managed to manoeuvre his vehicle back to his side of the carriageway but while doing so, the accused’s vehicle struck the offside front of the army vehicle.”
The wing mirror of Newman’s car broke off completely in the crash but no damage was caused to the army vehicle.
Newman, of Perth Road, Dundee was followed to Leuchars by the off-duty officers, before police attended.
He made no response to being cautioned and charged.
Dundee United offer support
On the day he was due to stand trial, first offender Newman pled guilty to driving dangerously by overtaking when it was unsafe, causing his vehicle to strike an oncoming army support vehicle.
The teenager is yet to play a first-team game for United but has previously been capped for the Scotland under-18 national team.
Newman, who joined the club from Sunderland, extended his contract at Tannadice in the summer until 2023 and was an unused substitute in the 0-0 draw with St Mirren on Saturday.
Solicitor Robert Sheridan said: “He had been travelling from Dundee to a training session.
“There has been an error of judgement that he decided it was perhaps safe to continue on past the bus.
“This is a matter he very much regrets.
“There were no injuries but he accepts that’s perhaps a matter of luck rather than anything else.”
He added: “He is originally from Hexham and does not have much of a support network here other than what’s offered by the club.
“His loss of licence will impact him quite significantly.
“The club will support him but he will not be in a position to visit his family.”
Newman was fined £560 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
