Woman Admits Causing Biker Death On A9 By Careless Driving
A woman who hit a grandfather with her Jeep on the A9 near Blair Atholl, killing him - has walked free from court.
Father-of-five Mervyn Taylor's courage was noted in court as he had tried desperately to avoid the head-on crash with Mona Rahman's Jeep Compass on the A9.
A sheriff described the case as a tragedy for all of the parties involved as he ordered Rahman to carry out 250 hours unpaid work in the community. She was disqualified from driving for three years.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told Perth Sheriff Court: "Your counsel correctly makes the observation that no penalty I impose can undo the tragic events of 21 April last year.
"An accident such as this can also be described as a tragedy for the person responsible because they had no intention to cause the tragic consequences.
"The level of carelessness was within the category of a momentary lapse."
Counsel Tony Graham, for Rahman, said it was likely that his client had not seen the motorcycle during a lapse which may have lasted as little as one third of a second.
He said: "A motorcyclist has lost his life due to a momentary lapse in concentration. Laying down his bike was an advanced training technique and perhaps demonstrates both the skill and courage of the deceased."
Rahman, who works at Glasgow University, admitted causing the death of Mr Taylor, 56, by driving into his motorbike as he made his way home from a family christening.
She failed to see the grandfather-of-ten's motorbike leading a line of traffic and he died instantly when she pulled out of a tourist spot and hit him.
Rahman, 60, who is Art & Design Technician in the university's Education Department, admitted causing Mr Taylor's death on the A9 by careless driving.
Mr Taylor had attended the christening in the north of Scotland and had travelled separately from his wife and daughter because he was a keen biker and wanted to use his motorcycle.
He was travelling south to his Norfolk home when he was fatally struck by Rahman's Jeep at the notorious junction between the A9 and the B8079 at Blair Atholl.
She had also been attending an event and had been driving north to attend that when she decided to pull in to the House of Bruar shopping complex in Highland Perthshire.
It was when Rahman came back out of the House of Bruar and tried to turn right to rejoin the northbound A9 that she drove into the path of Mr Taylor's motorbike.
Fiscal depute Robbie Brown said witnesses confirmed that Mr Taylor had been driving safely and within the 60 mph speed limit shortly before the accident.
Rahman, from Glasgow, admitted causing the death of Mr Taylor, 56, from Dereham, Norfolk, by driving carelessly on the A9 on 21 April last year.
She admitted failing to give way when leaving the B-road and driving across the A9 into the path of Mr Taylor's motorcycle, killing him.