Elgin woman unknowingly drove on the wrong side of the road before head-on A9 crash

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Sheriff Sara Matheson heard the case at Inverness Justice Centre.

An Elgin woman unknowingly drove on the wrong side of the A9 before a head-on collision.

Samantha Lyons (32), of North Street, thought she still driving on a dual carriageway section of the A9 before facing a head-on crash with a lorry near Cuaich, outside Dalwhinnie.

Lyons swerved back onto the correct side of the road to avoid the crash, but lost control of her Vauxhall Safira on the wet surface and fish-tailed back onto the opposing carriageway and into the path of an oncoming Audi A3.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that the force of the impact was such that her engine was dislodged from its casing and was projected into another car before coming to rest on the road.

Emergency services were called and Lyons plus the Audi motorist had to be cut free by Scottish Fire and Rescue.

The Audi driver suffered extensive injuries including sternum and rib fractures, a partially collapsed lung and a lacerated liver, fiscal depute Susan Love told Sheriff Sara Matheson.

Ms Love said that Lyons was on her way to Edinburgh for a weekend away on December 3, 2021, in bad weather and that one of her friends had commented on whether or not they were still on the dual carriageway.

After getting a response that they were, Lyons went on to the opposite lane.

“She drove alongside a car as if to overtake,” Ms Love said. “A motorist flashed his lights to warn her. Other motorists slowed down.

“A few seconds before (the collision) she yanked the wheel to get on to the right side of the road to avoid a head-on collision with the lorry and the rear of her car began to fish-tail and into the other lane.

“She collided head on with an Audi A3. Dashcam footage filmed the incident and the Audi had no opportunity to avoid the collision.”

After being charged, Lyons told police: “I feel terrible. I can’t apologise enough. I hope he makes a full recovery.”

Ms Love told the court that the other driver spent two-and-a-half months in recovery, and although still suffering some pain, had made a full recovery from his injuries.

Lyons admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and had sentence deferred for a background report. She was disqualified from driving in the interim.

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References

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