A man who crashed his car so badly police “thought they were arriving at a fatal accident” has been fined for careless driving.
Greg Mathieson, from Forfar, spent three weeks in intensive care following a country road smash that injured three other people in February.
Forfar Sheriff Court heard the 23-year-old overtook a car before a blind dip and collided with another family’s car as it crested the hill.
Mathieson, of Ivy Road, admitted driving carelessly, overtaking on a blind crest, causing his vehicle to crash and cause injury to four people, including himself.
He was fined £300 and his licence was endorsed by six points.
Mathieson suffered “life-changing injuries” and spent three months in Ninewells Hospital, while all three members of the Roger family in the other vehicle, a silver BMW, suffered injuries.
The overtaken car’s driver waited with Mathieson for police to arrive.
Depute fiscal Jim Eodonable said the incident happened on an “unlit country road” after darkness fell.
“An independent witness became aware of a driver, the accused, behind them and rather too close for comfort but not causing any significant concern,” he said.
“This witness knows the road well, and was conscious of a dip coming up, and could see another car travelling towards them on the other side of the road.
“Just as they become aware of this, the car behind starts to overtake.”
Following the collision, the witness reversed back some distance and put on their hazard lights, before going to the aid of the other motorists.
“They first went to the complainers, a Mrs and Mrs Roger and their daughter,” Mr Eodonable added.
The 13-year-old was sitting in the back seat and sustained a fracture left collarbone.
Mr Roger had “lacerations and soft tissue damage” to his knee and required 12 stitches.
Mrs Roger’s left wrist was broken, requiring the insertion of a steel pin, and a damaged right wrist and foot.
The fiscal said the family had all made a “good recovery” but the accused suffered “extensive injuries”.
“He was for some time unconscious while the third party went to his aid,” he added.
Defending Mathieson, solicitor Nick Whelan said he had been to the crash site, where there are no signs warning of the dip.
“There are lengthy white lines just before it, nothing to indicate that you can’t overtake, and no warning signs,” he said.
“My client had little if any recollection from the impact.
“He himself suffered significant, life-changing injuries and spent three months in hospital, three weeks of that in intensive care.
“When police went to the scene, they though it was of a fatal accident.”
Mr Whelan said Mathieson has started a phased return to work as the assistant manager of a bookmakers, and had not been able to drive since the accident due to nerve damage in one of his legs.
He said: “His parents have been at great pains to tell me he is no boy racer.
“The speedometer was stuck at 55mph and there is no suggestion he was driving at excessive speed. He will have a lifelong reminder of the incident.”
Mathieson underwent emergency surgery after suffering injuries to his legs and had internal bleeding in his abdomen after the crash on the Forestmuir Wood road, between Forfar and Kirriemuir, on January 25, at around 5pm.
He was unconscious when pulled from the wreckage of his blue 1.2 litre Peugeot 206 after firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to free him.