Scottish cyclist left scarred for life by terrifying road rage crash
A grandad from Fife has been left scarred for life following a horrific road rage attack.[1][2]
While cycling on the A92 in Glenrothes, Duncan Ronaldson, 67, was struck by a Vauxhall Astra and dragged along the road by driver Craig McComb, who was not known to him.
The collision saw Duncan thrown onto the ground to crash after McComb's bonnet locked with Duncan's e-bike, leading him to skid around five metres before he went down on On August 12, 2022.
Now that McComb has been jailed[5], the grandad, who now suffers from PTSD, says 'justice has been served'.
Duncan suffered a series of horrific disfigurements and injuries which saw his collar bone left "floating in his body". McComb was locked up for three years and eight months last week after a judge ruled he had used his car as a "weapon" to deliberately knock down Duncan in the rage-fuelled incident.
Duncan, from Glenrothes, told the Record[6] how his life has turned upside down after struggling with PTSD and has since had to retire early from his job.
He said: "My life has been changed dramatically by this incident, I have been left physically and mentally scarred for life. It was terrifying. My brain has blanked out a lot of it because of the trauma that it caused me.
Duncan Ronaldson suffered horrific injuries
"I didn't know McComb, he was a complete stranger to me. This was solely down to road rage and it has left me unable to work again. I had to retire early because I can no longer work, the physical demands would just be too much for me now.
"For the last two years, I have also been receiving therapy every fortnight to help me work through the emotional impact this has had on me. I could have died but for the grace of god, I am still here."
The court heard how Duncan became aware of McComb after he began to blast his horn at him. Duncan ignored him as he attempted to turn left but the vehicle then "shot up" behind him and moved in front.
The cyclist said he had to stop abruptly, causing him to eventually crash.
Duncan said: "For a while, I was being pulled along the ground because my wheel locked. I eventually flew over the handlebars and hit the tarmac. The gouges left behind in the road were 5.8m long, that gives you an idea of how far I went."
Duncan was admitted to hospital for ten days following the smash, where he underwent surgery for a severed collarbone. He was also left with an infection after his foot got caught under his bike and ripped from his shoe.
He said: "I ended up on the ground in front of the vehicle. The damage was crazy - my right foot was caught under the bike. Flesh on the top of my foot came off after it slipped through my laces and through the tongue of my shoe.
"It became infected because it was dragged along the tarmac and actually started to go black. Medics told me that if they didn't catch the infection in time, I could have lost my foot. When I hit the ground after getting thrown over the handlebars, I severed my shoulder. I needed surgery to bolt it together again.
"It smashed so hard against the ground that there was nothing holding my collarbone in place - it was just floating there in my body. I've been left with scarring across my body and I have limited range of movement on that shoulder as well.
"I can't carry bags of messages and there are still certain nights I have to take painkillers to go to bed."
Two years on, he still has to take painkillers (Image: Cycle Law Scotland)
McComb was banned from the road for a total of nine years and ten months following a three-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. Police initially arrested and charged the motorist, also of Glenrothes, in connection with attempted murder.
Jurors, however, convicted McComb of assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment and to the danger of his life.Reacting to his sentence, Duncan said: "I've had this hanging over me for over two years and I can now get closure. I'm grateful that justice has been served and that the court has recognised the seriousness of the offence.
"It has been extremely difficult for me over the last two years. I wish that motorists who get road rage would consider the fact that they're in a tonne-and-a-half vehicle and we are flesh and blood.
"They should remember that cyclists are somebody's father, grandfather and brother."
Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here[7] and get the latest news sent straight to your messages
Judge Lord Scott said: "You used your car as a weapon to assault the victim. The injuries which you have inflicted upon him are serious, severe and long-lasting."
Solicitor Roz Galloway of Cycle Law Scotland, who acted for Mr Ronaldson, said: "This was a heinous act of aggression by one person against another, let alone a motorist against a vulnerable road user, such as Duncan. We are particularly pleased with the length of the driving ban which will keep this driver off the roads for a very long time, but will also act as a deterrent to other drivers who might act aggressively towards cyclists.
"We all have a responsibility to look after each other and share the roads with respect."
Sign up for Edinburgh Live's newsletter
Get all the latest news and headlines from Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians sent straight to your inbox twice a day by signing up to our free newsletter.
From breaking news[8] to the latest on the coronavirus[9] crisis in Scotland, we'll have you covered.
The morning newsletter arrives every day before 9am and the evening newsletter, manually curated by the team, is sent at 6.30pm, giving you a round up of the most important stories of the day.
To sign up to any of our newsletters, visit this link here[10].
References
- ^ Fife (www.edinburghlive.co.uk)
- ^ road rage attack. (www.edinburghlive.co.uk)
- ^ Edinburgh mob attacks police with 'fireworks and bricks' as community locked down (www.edinburghlive.co.uk)
- ^ Edinburgh Lebanese woman fears waking up to news of her sister's death back home (www.edinburghlive.co.uk)
- ^ jailed (www.edinburghlive.co.uk)
- ^ Record (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)
- ^ Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ breaking news (www.edinburghlive.co.uk)
- ^ coronavirus (www.edinburghlive.co.uk)
- ^ here (data.reachplc.com)