French tourist caused accident near Dornoch after driving the wrong way along the road

A French tourist caused an accident in Easter Ross after driving the wrong way along the road.

Roman Chaix (35) had been travelling around Scotland with his mother when he came head-to-head with another vehicle on the A836 near Edderton at around 6.25pm on October 30.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Chaix’s Volkswagen Campervan collided with another vehicle, leaving the passenger from the other car with a fractured sternum and pelvis.

Chaix and his mother had pulled into a layby when they decided to head to Dornoch in the opposite direction.

However, when he performed the U-turn he continued in the right-hand lane, before coming face to face with another vehicle coming straight towards him.

Fiscal depute Shamima Gafur told Sheriff Nigel Cooke: “Both vehicles were unable to avoid each other and collided.

“The witnesses’ car spun around 90 degrees and both nearside fronts collided with one another.

“There was extensive damage to both vehicles. Mr Chaix and his mother were able to extract themselves from the Volkwagen and both were uninjured.

“A witness, who was a nurse, arrived on the scene and went to the aid of the other car along with Mr Chaix. Mr Chaix told the witness ‘It’s my fault, I’m French and was on the wrong side of the road’.”

Police, ambulance and the fire brigade arrived and the occupants of the other car were taken to Raigmore Hospital. The male driver suffered seatbelt and airbag bruising.

The female passenger with a fractured sternum and pelvis remains in the hospital.

Chaix, of Chatillion, France, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury while driving without due care or attention.

Sheriff Cooke fined Chaix a total of £1040 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

He said: “This is a serious accident with serious consequences. I accept this was an understandable but inexcusable accident.”

Chaix’s defence, John Maccoll said: “Mr Chaix had not driven in the UK before and made an understandable mistake by going on the wrong side of the road.

“He cooperated with the police, helped other parties and pled guilty at the first calling.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 6.25pm on Thursday, October 30, we were called to a report of a crash involving a van and a car on the A836 near Tain.

“The two occupants of the car were taken to hospital for treatment.”