BMW driver fined after smashing into car during overtaking manoeuvre on A68 in Northumberland
A BMW driver who smashed into a car during an unsafe overtaking manoeuvre in a remote area of Northumberland[1] has been fined.
Mason Saich was driving down the A68 when he was involved in a crash with another vehicle near Rochester on January 30 this year. The collision resulted in both vehicles being written off, but miraculously the woman driving the other car escaped unharmed.
Saich, of Loan, Hawick, in the Scottish Borders, appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court[2] facing a charge of driving without due care and attention. The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence at the morning hearing.
The court heard that a woman was driving at a slow speed along the A68 due to the wet road and low sun, as she approached Rochester. Stephen Davies, prosecuting, said: “As she was turning, she was struck out of nowhere by a BMW being driven by the defendant. Her vehicle came to a stop on the Pennine Way – in her vehicle were two dogs.
“The front wheel of her vehicle was completely detached as a result of the collision. She was then drawn to an alarm sounding in the distance and saw the BMW around 250 metres away.”
The court heard that Saich’s BMW had left the road and stopped near to a petrol station forecourt. Both the BMW and the woman’s car were written off. When the woman approached Saich, he told her: “I just didn’t see you.”
Fortunately, the woman avoided injury and she claimed to hear Saich tell police he had been driving at 80mph at the time of the crash. However, Michael Gibson, defending Saich – who works as a bus driver – said he did not say that to police and that it was merely “hearsay”.
Mr Gibson told the court that Saich “accepts responsibility” and that he “shouldn’t have overtaken where he was”. He said: “He was on his way to Otterburn to work and had driven from his own address. He drove up behind the complainant, she was driving very slowly and she was not indicating at that time.”
Mr Gibson added that it was “not a safe place to overtake” and that Saich sustained injuries which put him out of work for a period. He said he had never received any complaints from passengers while working as a bus driver.
Magistrates fined Saich £228 and ordered him to pay a £91 surcharge and £85 costs. He was also given six penalty points on his driving licence.
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References
- ^ Northumberland (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
- ^ Newcastle Magistrates’ Court (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
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