A dangerous driver has avoided jail after fleeing the scene of a crash that left his cousin lying on the road with a broken neck.
Lee Morrison suffered a fractured skull and broken neck as he was thrown from the pick-up truck being driven by his relative Darren Morrison.
But when police arrived, Darren was nowhere to be seen and it wasn’t until the following day that the 30-year-old motorist was traced.
Before the crash, driver Morrison had been witnessed colliding his powerful red Volkswagen Amarok into a number of parked cars near the Nile Takeaway in Banchory.
He then fled at high speed and was observed travelling at 80mph – twice the limit – before smashing his car into a wall, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
‘Catastrophic, life-changing consequences’
Darren Morrison, of Woodside, Lumphanan, pled guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving during the incident, which happened on the evening of May 29 2021.
He reappeared in the dock to be sentenced for his offending.
Defence agent Liam Mcallister handed the sheriff a number of letters that were supportive of his client.
The correspondence included a letter written by Morrison’s cousin.
Mr Mcallister said that his client had “significant mental health issues” at the time of the reckless episode but has taken steps to address them and was now in a “far more stable position”.
He added: “It was a catastrophic decision to drive in this way. It will have and has had catastrophic, life-changing consequences for Mr Morrison and his family.
“Mr Morrison will never forget his actions and reflects on them every day.”
Fiscal depute Jennifer Pritchard previously told the court that at around 9.30pm on May 29 2021, Morrison’s vehicle was seen leaving Bellfield Car Park in Banchory, before it crashed into three parked cars.
Around 15 minutes later, two witnesses were sitting in the living room of their home near Glassel Road, on the outskirts of the town, when they saw the pick-up speed past – going at least 80mph.
A short time later, two other witnesses were in their home when they heard a “loud bang that sounded like a collision”.
“One witness went outside and saw the vehicle heavily damaged on the opposite side of the road,” Ms Pritchard said.
“The passenger side roof of the car had been caved in and there was debris all over the road.
“She saw there was damage to the stone wall and fence, which surrounds her property and is adjacent to the road.
“She also heard someone shout, ‘Help’ and as she went to speak to her neighbour, she saw Lee Morrison lying in the road.”
Darren Morrison’s cousin suffered a fractured skull, two fractured vertebrae in his neck and back, a severe concussion and required seven stitches to the back of his head.
Darren, who was the driver, sustained two broken ribs and a punctured lung, and he now has impaired vision.
When police and ambulance personnel arrived at the crash scene, officers used police dogs to try to locate Darren in nearby woodland but they were unsuccessful.
He was traced the following day and he admitted to being the driver.
‘Good fortune consequences weren’t more catastrophic’
At Morrison’s sentencing, Sheriff Ian Wallace told him that his driving was “inexplicable” and that he “clearly had opportunities to stop”.
He added: “It’s only good fortune the consequences weren’t even more catastrophic”.
The sheriff ordered Morrison to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to prison.
He was also banned from driving for 27 months.
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