Eroded road markings and a “near invisible” stop sign have been partly blamed for a terrifying smash in rural Perthshire that left two people injured and caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage.
Pensioner Owen McGuinness shot out of a junction at Woodside, near Coupar Angus, and straight into a passing van, sending it spiralling across the road.
The 70-year-old told police he had not seen the stop sign, which lawyers argued was shrouded by overgrown roadside vegetation.
Keen angler McGuinness, who had been in the area for a fishing trip, appeared at Perth’s Justice of the Peace court and admitted driving his Kia Ceed without due care on January 16, failing to observe the stop sign and causing the collision.
The charge states van driver Kevin Sinclair and his passenger Kiegan Nixon were injured.
Cost of repairs
Fiscal depute Brian Kermode told the court: “This happened at the junction between an unclassified road and the main road at Woodside.
“There was a stop sign which police said was clearly visible but road markings at the locus were poorly maintained.”
He said: “Mr Sinclair was travelling north along the A94 in a Ford Transit van.
“His passenger Kiegan Nixon was asleep in the front passenger seat.”
As he approached the junction, Mr Sinclair became aware of a vehicle emerging from the junction.
McGuinness drove into the van, sending it spinning out of control, crashing through a fence and coming to rest on a grass verge.
The van took down three council sign posts.
Both vehicles suffered extensive frontside damage, Mr Kermode said.
“Witnesses declined medical treatment but said they were sore from their seatbelts.
“The accused told police he failed to see the stop sign on the unclassified road.”
It cost around £840 to replace the damaged fence.
Perth and Kinross Council also had to replace the three damaged signposts at a cost of around £1,000.
Junction improvements
Solicitor Nicholas Scullion said: “To say the state of this junction was poor is something of an understatement.
“It was very overgrown at the side of the road, making the stop sign near invisible.
“This junction has been improved considerably since this crash.”
He said: “Mr McGuinness had been at a local fishery and as he headed home he was unaware of the stop sign at this junction.
“He crept up to it and pulled out.”
Mr Scullion said: “He can only apologise profusely.
“He is a retired pensioner and he needs his car to get around.”
JP Paul Walker told McGuinness: “Care has to be taken at any road junction and if you are not from the area and unfamiliar with the road, that suggests even more care would need to be taken.
“There was quite substantial damage caused. It was obviously quite a collision by the sounds of things.
“I take into account that the signage was in a poor condition but I also have to consider the level of carelessness.”
McGuinness, of Meadowpark Street, Glasgow, was fined £300 and had four points added to his licence.
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