A young motorist’s early morning favour to take his parents to Edinburgh Airport almost ended in tragedy - after he fell asleep at the wheel of his car.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that Ian Kammerath of Salen, Acharacle, was on the A861 near Roshven on September 28, 2022 after driving his parents from west to east coast for an early morning flight.
But the 21-year-old dropped off on a blind bend and drifted on to the other carriageway, leaving a motorist coming in the other direction without time to react and prevent a head-on crash.
Kammerath had previously admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and had sentence deferred for a background report.
When he re-appeared before Sheriff Sara Matheson this week, he was ordered to carry out 210 hours of unpaid community work as an alternative to custody and banned from driving for 27 months.
Fiscal depute Alison Young told Sheriff Matheson: "The weather was dry and visibility was clear. The other car came round a right hand bend where there was no view of oncoming traffic and the accused was over the white line on her side of the road.
"She braked but was unable to avoid a head-on collision which occurred at high speed. Another motorist stopped to assist and the woman was screaming in pain, complaining of a wrist injury as she attempted to attend to her dog which was in the back of her car."
Mrs Young added that Kammerath was bleeding from the nose but paramedics who had been called assessed him and he did not require medical help.
The court heard Kammerath told police: "I was driving since early morning, dropped off my parents at Edinburgh airport but was tired and fell asleep."
Mrs Young said that the injured woman suffered fractures to her arm, ribs and injuries to her lungs.
She added: "She has been left with scars to her wrist and has suffered long term mental health problems. She struggles emotionally and is reluctant to get in a vehicle."
Defence solicitor advocate Clare Russell told the court that her client was employed and "valued" by his bosses.
She added: "He lives in a remote area and getting to his employment is difficult. However he plans to relocate to Edinburgh. He made some stops on his way to take short naps but ultimately he fell asleep."
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