Car smash inspires Easter Ross woman to create head-turning artwork hailed a hit by road safety campaigner
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AN Easter Ross woman shaken by the horrific aftermath of a young driver's car smash into the side of her home has turned the alarming experience into a piece of art that a leading road safety campaigner reckons deserves an A-plus credit.
When an out-of-control young driver smashed into the side of her Evanton home, Linda Odd was shocked by what she saw of the crash impact and amazed he had survived.
The 63-year-old said: "You see so many young people behind the wheel and they've got their foot down going for it. They don't realise the consequences or how badly other people can be affected."
Her partner, who was home at the time of the impact, described the noise as "unbelievable". Ms Odd said: "When he saw the car lying upside down on our log store, he couldn't believe anyone could have walked away from it. The boy was okay but the main body of the car was stuck into the house and creating a fire hazard so it was removed a couple of hours later. All the bits that smashed off were left lying in the garden."
The mature art student then decided she could get something out of a scary scenario. She assembled pieces of the written-off car, including a bit of bumper, an inner wheel arch, and a Cadbury Flake wrapper she believes flew out on crash impact, and turned it into a startling sculpture.
The piece has already had quite an impact with fellow students and passers-by. She said: "Police later told me the young driver told them 'I wasn't racing' so that's the title of my piece."
She said people were "shaken" to see the bits involved in the crash. She added: "A few young lads recognised the pieces as belonging to their friend so they took some pictures and Snapchatted them to him.
"I want to send a message that young drivers must be careful and this sculpture is provoking a lot of reaction. That's what art's meant to be, isn't it? Provocative."
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP and road safety campaigner, David Stewart, said the piece "really makes us think of the impact of road accidents" and he hopes she "gets an A+" for it.
He added: "Obviously, we don’t know the circumstances of this unfortunate accident, but the general message to drivers has to be applauded.”
