Court hears girl (9) left in life threatening condition after Moray crash on A941 between Dufftown and Craigellachie
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A NINE year old girl was left fighting for her life when an oncoming vehicle lost control after overtaking on a bend and caused another car to crash into her father's Nissan Juke.
The youngster suffered multiple fractures, serious head injuries and a punctured lung as a result of the horrific three vehicle collision which occurred on February 23, 2020 between Dufftown and Craigellachie.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that doctors who treated her estimated an 18 month recovery time.
Kieran MacPherson of Dufftown appeared before Sheriff Sara Matheson and admitted causing serious injury to the girl and her father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, by driving dangerously.
The occupants of the third car suffered bruising.
Fiscal depute Susan Love said MacPherson's sporty Fiat Abarth drove along the A941 at excessive speed for the road and performed an overtake of the father's SUV on a bend.
"He pulled away from him (the father) too fast. No braking was observed.
Multiple witnesses recall seeing his vehicle as being out of control as it rounded the bend and came towards them sideways." Ms Love said.
The court heard that MacPherson collided with an Audi coming in the opposite direction which rotated on the road and hit the father and daughter's car.
"The accused's vehicle came to rest facing north, partly on the grass verge and southbound carriageway - approximately 100 metres north of the others. He appeared to be uninjured." Ms Love said.
The nine year old, who was wearing a seat belt but not in a car seat, was unconscious.
She was taken to Dr Gray's hospital in Elgin and later transferred to Edinburgh by helicopter because of her life threatening injuries.
All others were able to get out of the vehicles themselves, Sheriff Matheson was told.
The road was closed for 12 hours.
Ms Love added that the young girl suffered a major head injury, a punctured lung, a lacerated liver, and fractures to her spine, shoulder, leg and collarbone.
Her father also suffered a spinal fracture and muscle damage to his left shoulder.
The three people in the Audi suffered extensive bruising.
Sheriff Matheson deferred sentence until May 18 for a background report and a restriction of liberty order assessment.
MacPherson was disqualified from driving in the interim and had his bail continued.
