Driver who crashed into group ride, causing two cyclists life-changing injuries, handed community order

A motorist who drove through a ‘Give Way’ sign and crashed into a group of cyclists who were on a club ride with Dundee Wheelers, leaving two of them with life-changing injuries, has been handed a community order and banned from driving after admitting two counts of causing serious injury through careless driving.

The Daily Record reports that Perth Sheriff Court heard that Melissa McKelligott, aged 44 and from Edinburgh, was unable to explain how she had failed to stop at the sign before ploughing into the group of eight cyclists near the village of Rait, Perth & Kinross, on 27 July 2022.

The offence with which the motorist was charged came into force the month before the incident under the Police Crime & Sentencing Act 2022, and carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment.

Two of the cyclists were given medical treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital in Perth, with one, Brian Barr, aged 54, subsequently requiring a hip replacement, with his other injuries including broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

Another cyclist, 29-year-old Helen Wall, sustained injuries including several fractured vertebrae as a result of the collision. A third cyclist was also treated for less serious injuries.

Prosecuting, fiscal depute Sam Craib said: “At about 6.45 pm the accused’s black Mini Cooper travelled through the junction at a Give Way sign.

“She collided with the cyclists. She went straight through the junction. her offside wing mirror snapped off and there were scratches on her vehicle. She got out of the vehicle and was in shock and screaming.

“She made her way to the verge where she sat down, facing away from the cyclists because she couldn't bear to look at the damage she had caused.”

Mr Craib said that several of the cyclists went to check that the motorist was unhurt, and that she said: “There's a Give Way sign – why didn’t I stop, why didn’t I stop?”

“Mr Barr broke his right hip and required a hip replacement,” Mr Craib continued. “He received physio until December 2022. The hip is 75 per cent repaired and that is as good as it’s going to get.

“He suffers pain in his hip. He had a partially collapsed lung, four broken ribs and multiple cuts and bruises. Ms Wall had two fractures to her lumber spine.

“She had a shoulder injury and severe chest and rib pain. The third cyclist, Robert Mills, had bruised knees, cuts down his side and a sore neck,” he added.

"Ms Wall had an 18-month recovery period. She is expected to have nuisance level symptoms throughout her life.”

At the time of the crash, McKelligott was driving on a US driver’s licence which permitted her to drive in the UK for a period of 12 months from April 2022.

Pauline Cullerton, defending her, told the court: “She has not driven since the incident. She fully accepts she failed to stop at the Give Way sign. She did see the cyclists in the corner of her eye.

“She made an emergency stop which caused her vehicle to collide with the cyclists. She did remain at the scene until the emergency services arrived,” the solicitor added.

Recalling the crash, Mr Barr said: “As we got to that junction I saw this car coming out of the corner of my eye. I just knew by the speed it was going that it was never ever stopping.

“Everything kind of went slow motion. I tried to veer left. I was at an angle when I went into the car, banged into it and then got carried on the car as it went right through the junction and up the other side of the road.

“When it stopped, I came off the bonnet and landed, and got another bang.”

Ms Wall, whose injuries meant that she was forced to miss the Scottish Championships being held a week after the crash, said: “I got flung several metres through the air in the direction the car was travelling, so when I hit the ground I landed on my bottom then hit my left shoulder and the back of my head.

“The force of the fall went up through my spine and crushed two of my vertebrae.”

Sentencing McKelligott to 225 hours of unpaid work and banning her from driving for 93 weeks, Sheriff Mark Thorley said: “It is obviously a serious matter.

“The consequences were quite serious. Two people were badly injured and neither has fully recovered,” he added.