75-year-old denies causing death in Nairn car crash
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A pensioner is accused of causing death by careless driving in an incident which occurred in Nairn.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that both drivers involved in the incident around the Thurlow Road junction with Seafield Street were unable to give exact details of what happened there on January 21, 2021 but police collision experts examined the scene and concluded that Christina Cameron (75) of Osprey Crescent, Nairn, should stand trial for causing the death by careless driving of local man James Alexander (91).
Cameron is accused of driving her Mazda motor car without due care and consideration for other road users by failing to maintain proper observations, failing to give way as required at the junction and causing her car to collide with a Honda being driven by Catriona James on Seafield Street.
The charge continues that both cars were damaged and that Cameron's car struck Mr Alexander who was standing on the pavement, severely injuring him and that he subsequently died.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank heard evidence that Cameron, who had been out for a walk nearby before getting back into her car, may have had some kind of brief fainting episode just before the tragedy.
Mrs James, a 49 year old medical secretary, told fiscal depute Niall Macdonald that she accused Cameron of driving out in front of her and then regretted it.
"I saw the elderly gentleman standing on the pavement and I thought what is he doing out on a night like this," she said. "The next thing there was a bang. I saw lights from the side. I didn't know what had happened.
"I thought I had better put my brakes on or I was going to hit a wall. I was shocked, stopped and got out.
"Then I saw the man.
"The old lady in the other car had also got out.
"I think I said 'I didn't do anything. it is not my fault'. Then I felt bad about accusing her. She was shocked the same as me."
Golf Range manager Keith MacPherson was walking along the road when he heard the collision behind him.
"The driver of the Honda was quite vocal and distressed so I knew she was alright," he said. "I went to see the pedestrian lying on the ground and I asked him what his name was.
"He replied and I asked him if he was OK. He said he was cold. Someone put a jacket over him. The driver of the Mazda seemed confused by what had happened."
Teenager Ben Booker-Millburn, a 19-year-old out walking his dog with his mother, had passed Mr Alexander on the pavement and smiled at him.
"Then I heard the bang," he said. "I didn't see him but saw that two cars were totalled – badly damaged. I put a jacket over the man and then saw two women who were quite distressed. The older woman had breathing problems and was complaining of chest pains."
Nearby resident Anny Bryce also heard the bang and came out of her house to investigate. She saw Mrs James, whom she knew, gave her a hug then went to check on Cameron.
"There was a body lying covered in coats and blankets," she said. "An elderly lady was walking around in circles, I went to get a chair for her. I thought she was talking to herself, she was wandering about in a daze.
"After the collision, the council repainted the give way signage on the road and put up a sign at the junction."
Paramedic Emma Beatham who attended to Cameron said she checked her over. Her blood pressure was raised and she complained of chest pain but her ECG was normal and she did not appear disorientated.
A&E doctor Shona Haggerty who also examined Cameron at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness told the court: "I asked her some questions. She said she was not feeling faint or dizzy nor had shortness of breath shortly before the accident."
The doctor added that a protein in Cameron's blood was present, which was a marker of cardiac damage. She said it could have been caused by blood putting pressure on the heart after Cameron's sternum was broken in the collision.
Defence counsel Ewan Dow asked her: "Are you aware of syncope (fainting) where there are no typical symptoms?"
The doctor replied: "Yes there can be."
Mr Dow asked her if she had been able to get a clear explanation of what happened from his client.
Dr Haggerty replied: "After talking to her, I had no sense of what happened. She did not recall being unwell before the accident but she could have been."
The trial, which is expected to conclude on Thursday, continues.
