Auldearn pensioner caused collision which led to life-threatening injuries for a motorcyclist

A biker suffered life-threatening injuries when a pensioner was too slow in getting his van back onto his side of the road after allowing a car to pass.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Robert Macrae (74) was pulling out of a passing place when he caused the collision with the motorbike on the B9109 near Auldearn on September 6, 2023.

Fiscal depute Victoria Silver told Sheriff Gary Aitken that Macrae had been driving east in a white courtesy Vauxhall van with a passenger.

He pulled into a layby on the opposite side of the road to let the car travelling behind him pass due to Macrae being “quite a slow driver”.

A witness in a car that passed then observed the motorcyclist coming over the brae travelling west and Macrae pulling out of the layby requiring the motorcyclist to take evasive action but being unable to avoid collision.

Ms Silver said: “He was separated from his bike and came to rest on the road.

“He was in significant pain but conscious and breathing. Another witness, a doctor, was driving past at the time of the accident and offered medical attention until the paramedics arrived.”

The motorcyclist was transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with multiple pelvic fractures which Ms Silver said were initially life-threatening.

Macrae of Boath Terrace, Auldearn, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by driving without due care or attention.

Defence solicitor John MacColl showed the court photographs of the aftermath which confirmed the rear of his client's car was still over the white central line of the opposing carriageway.

He said: “There is a level of culpability and he fell below the level of a careful and competent driver. He has been driving for 55 years and his license has now been revoked.”

Sheriff Aitken fined Macrae a total of £680 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.