Dingwall woman admits causing death by careless driving

AN ELDERLY Dingwall motorist faces sentence next month for causing the death of a female pedestrian by knocking her down in a town centre car park.

Jean Bridgeford of Portmahomack died from her injuries at the scene of the tragedy in Cromartie Car Park, Dingwall after she became trapped underneath Paula Grant’s car last August.

Grant (77) appeared at Dingwall Sheriff Court on Thursday (January 19) on indictment and admitted the charge of causing death by careless driving.

Depute fiscal Roderick Urquhart said Grant of Mount Gerald House, Old Evanton Road, had no previous convictions. He then passed a victim impact statement to Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen.

Sheriff MacFadyen said that given the gravity of the offence he would be seeking background reports on Grant before sentence.

He added that he did not want to hear the details of the offence as it was a matter of regret that he would be on leave from duty when the case next called and it would be dealt with by another sheriff, who would need to hear the facts before sentencing.

The indictment, which Grant pled guilty to, stated that she caused the death of Mrs Bridgeford of Petley Farm by driving without due care and attention, failing to keep a proper lookout and failing to pay attention to the road ahead and the presence of pedestrians, causing her vehicle to collide with the pedestrian, knocking her to the ground and trapping her underneath the vehicle.

The indictment stated Mrs Bridgeford sustained injuries from which she died, there and then.

Grant’s sentence was deferred until February 16. Her bail was continued.

• For a full round-up of court from Ross-shire, pick up a copy of this week’s Ross-shire Journal.