Driver overtook a bus and two cars in busy street before ploughing into pub-goer

A motorist knocked down a pub-goer, who spent 17 days being treated in hospital for serious injuries, after overtaking a bus and two cars on a busy street. Paul Davidson pulled onto the wrong side of the road in his Volkswagen to pass the stationary vehicles on the High Street in Lasswade, Midlothian. The 48-year-old’s car hit Michael Pinkman who had left a nearby bar to catch a bus, sending him to the ground where he struck his head.

Unconscious Michael was given CPR and taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment for a head injury, lung contusions, and fractured ribs. Davidson, an HGV driver, appeared at the city’s sheriff court on Thursday, and admitted colliding with a pedestrian after driving without due care and attention. Fiscal depute Gavin Whyte said the crash took place at around 7.20pm when it was dark and damp but there was good visibility.

It was a Friday and the area was busy with people on Christmas nights out. Mr Whyte said a line of traffic was backed up on the High Street and a bus had stopped outside the Laird and Dog Inn. The court heard Davidson pulled out to overtake two vehicles and the bus and hit Michael who was crossing the road.

Mr Whyte said: “It caused him to be knocked off his feet. His head struck the ground, rendering him unconscious.” Davidson stopped at the scene and later told police officers he’d collided with the pedestrian, adding he wasn’t going too fast on the 20mph road.

Michael was taken to the ERI following the collision on December 14 2018 and was discharged on Hogmanay. Defence agent, Mr Simpson, said his client was entitled to overtake and was travelling below the speed limit, but accepted he should’ve had done so with “lots of people around”. The solicitor said CCTV showed Michael coming from the pub, looking left where he would’ve been able to see Davidson’s car “but he seems to have been unable to stop himself leaving the pavement”.

Mr Simpson said 3.7 seconds passed from the start of the overtaking to the collision, and only 1.25 seconds from Michael stepping off the pavement to being struck.

Dad-of-two Davidson had been returning from Christmas shopping, the court heard, and was “very remorseful” for the injuries that Michael sustained.

Sheriff Donald Corke fined Davidson, of Gorebridge, Midlothian, GBP400 and endorsed his driving licence with six penalty points.