Van driver under influence of drugs avoids jail following smash on A68 which left boy, 14, seriously injured

A van driver who caused a head-on crash on the A68, south of Jedburgh, which left a 14-year-old boy in hospital with serious injuries, while under the influence of drugs, has narrowly avoided a jail sentence.

Sean Rhind, who's 48 and from Kirkcaldy in Fife, tested positive for cocaine following the smash near Camptown last summer.

Jedburgh Sheriff Court today (Monday) heard the teenager had to be cut free from his vehicle after suffering a broken leg and bruised spine.

The incident unfolded on the cross-border route - not far from the Scotland-England border - around 4.20pm on Sunday, June 30th.

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The court heard the schoolboy - a front seat passenger - had been travelling south on holiday with his family when Rhind's red Transit - travelling in the opposite direction - crossed the white line and collided with their black Volkswagen Sharan.

The 47-year-old woman driving the car and two back seat passengers – an 11-year-old boy and 10-year-old girl – were all taken to Borders General Hospital.

The woman suffered a broken bone in her hand, pain in her chest, bruising to her arm, and an injury to her ear.

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Rhind previously admitted charges of dangerous driving and driving under the influence of controlled drugs - Benzoylecgonne and Methylamphetamine.

Sheriff Peter Anderson noted a report which stated his "foolish" choices were due to difficulties he had in his life prior to the "terrifying" incident which, he warned, "could have been even worse".

He disqualified Rhind from driving for 30 months and ordered him to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work as part of a two-year supervision order.

Sheriff Anderson said the sentence was a direct alternative to custody.

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