A nurse has been left “in total disbelief” after a thoughtless driver smashed into the car she inherited from her late father in the Ninewells Hospital car park, before driving off.
Heather Kinney, 33, a staff nurse and mother-of-two from Dundee, had just finished a 12-hour shift on Monday when she returned to find extensive damage on the side of the car.
The Toyota Yaris had a deep dent and long scrape in its right-side doors and sill, thought to be the result of another car hitting it before scraping along her vehicle.
Heather said: “It was my father’s car, which I had just inherited after he passed away. It was quite sentimental and I just feel this damage is so disrespectful.
“I had only recently returned from bereavement leave as the death was very hard to come to terms with. It was quite a hard day at work anyway and as I walked towards the car I noticed white scrapes along the side.
“At first I thought it was a reflection but as I got closer I saw it was a deep dent. I just couldn’t believe it. Usually wee scrapes do happen in the car park, but nothing like that.
“I checked under the wipers for a note but there wasn’t one. I was just shocked and in total disbelief.I couldn’t believe anyone wouldn’t leave information after doing that to someone’s car.
“I didn’t expect to come out after a 12- hour shift helping people to see my car in such a mess, which has all just been left for me to sort out through my own insurance,” she added.
“It looks like a fair amount of damage. I am dreading taking it into the garage to find out the cost. It is not going to be cheap and my insurance premiums will definitely go up.”
The car had been parked in Ninewells car park two near the exit barrier when the incident occurred sometime between 7.30am, when Heather arrived for work, and 8.15pm, when she returned.
She now hopes that any witnesses in the usually busy car park will come forward with some information to help police trace the culprit.
“If you do that to someone’s car you have to take responsibility for it,” Heather said.
“It is a family car and there could have been kids in it. It looks like someone hit it at speed, bashed it and then continued to scrape along the side of it.
“Even the police were surprised at how much damage there was when they saw it. Surely whoever did it must have got my colour all down the side of their car?
“I think they should own up and come forward before the police track them down.”
A police spokeswoman confirmed that they are investigating, including carrying out a review of the car park’s CCTV.
Anyone who was in the area at the time and thinks they may have information that will help the police with their inquiries is asked to call 101 or speak to any police officer.