A self-employed builder broke his fiancee’s back in a head-on collision in the Highlands last year after misjudging an overtake.
Maciej Bascik, 33, 25 Cornwall Avenue, Finchley, London was travelling on the A87 between Invermoriston and Kyle of Lochalsh on April 1, 2015, when he came upon a line of traffic, fiscal Roderick Urquhart told Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
“At the head of it was a lorry and trailer and behind it was two vehicles, travelling about 40mph. He tried to overtake them but only managed two cars.
“A Ford Transit van was coming in the opposite direction and realising the mess he was in, he swerved into the bellmouth of a road. Unfortunately, the Transit did the same and there was a head on collision.”
Bascik admitted dangerous driving and was fined £750 by Sheriff Margaret Neilson, who also banned him from driving for two years.
Mr Urquhart added that Bascik’s partner, Anna Matuyzcak, although seriously injured, did not require surgery and has made a full recovery.
The driver of the van, Craig McDowell and his passenger Ryan Denham were not seriously hurt.
Defence laywer Neil Wilson said: “This was a momentary misjudgement. He thought he had sufficient time to pass all the vehicles but he only had time for two.
“He feels dreadful about this. He is an honest, hard-working, genuine individual.”