A teenager lost control of his car and crashed into an oncoming vehicle – just four months after passing his driving test.
Quinn Murray was driving back from visiting his dad on the A97 near Huntly when he took a bend too quickly and lost control.
The 19-year-old spun across onto the wrong side of the road and collided with a car coming the other way.
Fortunately, nobody was seriously hurt in the crash, which was put partially down to a fuel spill on the road, as well as Murray’s excessive speed.
Fiscal depute Tom Procter told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the incident happened at 2.30pm on October 30 2021 on the A97 near Bucharn Farm.
A number of witnesses were driving through a series of bends in the route while Murray was driving in the opposite direction.
‘Contributing factor to that was moisture and fuel spilt on the road’
It was noted Murray was driving at “excessive speed, especially given the road layout with bends and dips”.
Witnesses saw Murray come round a bend at speed and “lose control” of the vehicle, spinning 90 degrees and crossing to the wrong side of the road and colliding with another car.
The other vehicle tried to drive onto the verge to avoid a collision but was unable to do so.
Both drivers escaped serious injury and were able to get out of their vehicles and wait for the emergency services.
Murray, of Milton Close, Huntly, pled guilty to a charge of careless driving.
Defence agent Ian Woodward-Nutt said his client is a “hard-working young man” with a “bright future” employed as a plumbing and heating engineer.
He said Murray is “deeply sorry” for causing the accident.
Mr Woodward-Nutt said: “He passed his test just four months prior to this incident.”
The solicitor said Murray was familiar with the route from regularly travelling it to visit his father.
‘Clear remorse’
He added: “He accepts that, going through the bend and given the prevailing road condition, his speed was excessive and this caused him to lose control of the vehicle.
“It seems likely a contributing factor to that was moisture and fuel spilt on the road.
“After the accident, Mr Murray checked the other driver was okay and complied with all the procedures required of him.”
Mr Woodward-Nutt said Murray had also shown “clear remorse”.
He asked for Murray to be given five penalty points because, as a new driver, he would have to resit his test if given six or more.
Sheriff David Clapham told Murray: “With some hesitation, what I’m going to do is, in view of Mr Woodward-Nutt’s eloquent plea on your behalf, is impose five penalty points.”
In addition to the points, the sheriff fined Murray £320.
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