A Fife man is due to stand trial next year accused of dangerous driving after two schoolboys were hit by a bus in a Dunfermline car park.
John Morrison, 59, of Marmion Drive, Glenrothes, made a further appearance at Dunfermline Sheriff Court in connection with an incident in Allan Crescent earlier this year.
Two local youngsters were left injured – one seriously – following an accident involving a Bay Travel bus on February 28.
Morrison is accused of causing serious injury to a boy, then aged 13, by driving dangerously and failing to properly observe the roadway around him.
The charge alleges that his vehicle hit the 13-year-old and another boy, who was then aged 12.
Morrison previously denied the charge by letter in August and maintained his not guilty plea during his latest appearance in court.
A brief hearing last week revealed discussions had been ongoing between the Crown Office and Morrison’s solicitors, which prompted a continuation of the case.
However, during yesterday’s proceedings, solicitor Alexander Flett – acting on behalf of Morrison’s principal agents – lodged a defence motion to adjourn the case again.
“The case had previously called on November 9 and was continued to allow for discussions with the Crown,” he said.
“Unfortunately, those discussions did not bear fruit.”
Mr Flett said an accident reconstruction report had not yet been provided, adding that this was an important factor since there was a “material issue about the factual circumstances of the accident”.
Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said the Crown had no opposition to the defence motion to adjourn, pointing out that a key witness – namely the more seriously injured boy – had not yet been cited to appear.
Mr Kapadia said police investigations had suggested that the child, who suffered serious leg and arm injuries, is now living in the Leicestershire area, but his exact whereabouts had yet to be determined.
Neither boy be named for legal reasons.
Sheriff Charles Macnair agreed to fix a trial date of February 1, 2018, with another procedural hearing expected to take place a fortnight prior to that.
