An American tourist’s ‘spectacular piece of inattention’ was captured on dashcam footage showing a head-on collision which seriously injured four people.
But 54 year old Christopher Adams’ rented Nissan Qashai was not involved when he turned into the path of an oncoming Citroen van which swerved into the opposite lane and crashed into an Audi coming in the opposite direction.
Adams from North Carolina was not present at Inverness Sheriff Court when his lawyer, Natalie Paterson, tendered a guilty plea on her client’s behalf to causing serious injury by careless driving on the A9 near the Ralia junction on July 27, 2023.
Sheriff Sara Matheson heard that Adams had been holidaying in the UK with his wife and son and was travelling southbound on the A9 with the intention of turning right on the B9150 towards Newtonmore at RaliaJunction at 12.45pm.
Fiscal depute Pauline Gair told the court that he slowed his vehicle as he entered the filter lane and put on his right-hand indicator, showing his intention to manoeuvre his vehicle onto the B1950.
She said: “At the same time, witness Gordon McGregor was travelling northbound in a white Citroen panel van. As Mr McGregor approached the junction, the accused who was slowing within the filer lane, drove forward and entered the northbound lane into the path of Mr McGregor.
“He left insufficient time or distance to complete the manoeuvre, which led Mr McGregor to take evasive action by manoeuvring into the southbound lane.
“At the same time, witnesses Nishi, Ranjanbala and Jayantilal Solanki were travelling southbound in a black Audi.
“Mr McGregor collided with the front offside of the black Audi, causing extensive damage to both vehicles.”
The prosecutor said that the Audi came to rest on the rear side verge of the southbound lane and the Nissan and the Citroen on the northbound lane, with debris strewn over the road.
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Emergency services were called with all the casualties being treated by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Mrs Gair continued: “Due to the injuries sustained by Ranjanbala Solanki, she was taken to Raigmore and found to have a perforated bowel and was placed in a medically induced coma for two and a half weeks, undergoing multiple surgeries. She was released from hospital on August 14, 2023.
“She suffered profound hearing loss because of the accident with 92 per cent lost in her right ear and 86 per cent lost in the left.
“She now suffers from constant stomach, neck and lower back pain and is dependent on pain medication. Ms Solanki underwent further surgery in January 2024.
“Mr Solanki sustained injuries to his lower back and continues to suffer ongoing pain. Witness Gordon McGregor sustained injuries, including a broken left hand, a broken left foot, a dislocated toe and bruised ribs.”
The other passenger in the Audi was slightly injured.
When police attended the scene and asked who was driving the Nissan, Mr Adams replied ‘I was’, and he was arrested and later charged in Inverness.
Ms Paterson said: “He had been on holiday in the UK using a rented vehicle 10 times previously without incident. This was a momentary lapse of concentration.”
Sheriff Sara Matheson disqualified Adams from driving in the UK for 12 months driving ban and imposed a £2185 fine.
She said: “It is impossible for me to reflect the very eloquent victim statement or to compensate them for their injuries. That can be done in the civil court.
“This was a spectacular piece of inattention and the dashcam footage brings home powerfully what can happen.”