A court has heard how ‘co-pilot confusion’ led to a man smashing into an AA van on one of Courier country’s busiest roads.
Wheelie-bin cleaner Gordon Jamieson was crossing the A90 Dundee to Aberdeen dual carriageway near Brechin when he misheard an all-clear instruction from his passenger and pulled right into the path of the rescue service vehicle.
The collision forced the van off the road but fortunately the AA man inside escaped serious injury in what Forfar Sheriff Court was told had been a “momentary lapse” on the part of the accused.
Jamieson, of Southesk Street, Brechin, admitted driving carelessly on the A90 at West Kintrockat Farm junction, near Brechin, on November 25 last year and pulling into the path of the van from the central reservation of the dual carriageway, causing damage to both vehicles and injuring its driver John McIntyre.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told the court the crash happened just after 9am after Jamieson had picked up a friend at the farm.
“He crossed into the central reservation, looked briefly and asked his passenger if was clear,” the fiscal told the court.
The AA van was travelling around 50 miles per hour and its driver saw Jamieson pull out into the dual carriageway, but although he pulled into the nearside the accused’s Ford Ranger kept moving across and they made contact.
The AA van driver received treatment for bruising to his arm.
At the scene Jamieson admitted: “It’s my fault.”
Defence solicitor Nick Markowski said 61-year-old Jamieson operates a wheelie bin cleaning business using the modified Ford pick-up which he had to turn slightly within the central reservation, resulting in his view of approaching traffic being reduced.
“He is dependent on his passenger to be his eyes and there has been a miscommunication.
“He thought his co-pilot, as it were, was giving him the all-clear.
“If he had stayed in the outside lane he would have been okay, but ironically it was an AA van he encountered,” added Mr Markowski.
He said Jamieson was not keeping the best of health and the business is operating part-time as a result.
The crash also caused £1,000 worth of damage to his own vehicle.
“It was a momentary lapse he’s fortunate there was no serious injury and he apologises to the court.”
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio fined Jamieson £300 and imposed five penalty points on his licence.