Moray driver avoids jail for causing four-car crash by driving "ridiculously dangerously"
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DRIVING "ridiculously dangerously" led an Elgin man (24) to injure himself and his passenger in a four car pile-up – landing him banned from driving for 43 months.
David Grant of Morriston Road was also ordered to carry out 108 hours of unpaid community work and remain under social work supervision for two years.
Grant previously admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving on the A98 Buckie to Fochabers road, but sentencing was deferred for a background report.
The incident took place near the junction with the unclassified road to Keith and Nether Dallachy, near Tynet on August 28, 2020.
Grant was driving his Fiat Grande Punto, with Jamie Sutherland as his passenger.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told he overtook another vehicle, with witnesses saying Grant was driving in excess of the 60mph limit.
Mr Sutherland told Grant he was driving too fast and to slow down. But Grant lost control, crossed the solid white line and collided with the rear of another car, causing it to flip and land on its roof.
The 24-year-old's Fiat then hit another vehicle, causing it to rotate and strike a fourth.
Grant's car also overturned onto its roof, with the driver and Mr Sutherland airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald heard that Grant suffered two compound fractures to his left arm, a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding and bruising. Mr Sutherland had lacerations to his liver, lungs and kidney.
Defence solicitor Brent Lockie said: "Since this offence he has been placed on two community payback orders this year and has fully cooperated.
"Reading the report, it appears to me he is turning a corner now and is moving in the right direction. He has some hours of unpaid work left to do and this could be dealt with by another community payback order."
Sheriff Macdonald agreed. She told Grant: "You were a young man of 21 when this occurred. It was a serious driving incident and you were driving your car ridiculously dangerously, causing significant harm.
"But it appears to me that you are growing up a bit and I am prepared to deal with this without sending you into custody."
