Kieran Forward caused a devastating head-on crash leaving an innocent motorist with life-changing spinal injuries.
A fisherman who left his victim with a lasting spinal injury in a catastrophic crash as he lost control overtaking on a bend has been banned from driving for two years.
Kieran Forward needed emergency surgery and is “lucky to be alive” after crashing head-on at speed into another man’s vehicle on the A917 Upper Largo road.
Dashcam footage showed Forward’s Skoda Octavia flying through the air after the impact with the oncoming Volvo XC40 on 26 July 2023.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told that the 52-year-old driver of the Volvo was left with a spinal injury that may never fully heal.
Forward, 36, who had to undergo three operations, was ordered to carry out 225 hours unpaid work by Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith.
The sheriff said: “It is self-evident from the dashcam footage and the narrative that you carried out this overtake manoeuvre as you were approaching a village.
“It was a summer’s evening when there may be animals, young children on ponies, families approaching from the various exits that we saw on the footage.
“You must recognise that you yourself are lucky to be alive and owe your life to the personnel of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Scottish Ambulance Service and the medics who subsequently treated you.
“You caused significant harm to [the complainer], who was entirely blameless. The court views the matter very seriously.”
Forward, who has a previous conviction for careless driving in 2017, admitted causing serious injury by driving dangerously.
The court was told how the driver of a Ford Transit was heading towards Upper Largo when he became aware of the Skoda “close behind him”. Forward repeatedly drove on the central line as if to overtake.
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie said: “He drove on the left hand bend at speed. A witness did see his brake lights illuminate but he failed to negotiate the bend, crossed into the opposing lane, and collided head-on with the complainer’s vehicle.
“The accused’s vehicle turned on its side before coming to a rest.”
Debris was seen to “fly through the air” and a nearby resident ran out of her house after hearing a loud bang.
The dashcam footage showed the victim’s partner – who had been driving another car directly behind his – desperately rushing to his aid before he was moved to her vehicle.
Emergency services took around an hour to free Forward from his car before he was taken to the major trauma unit at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
The victim was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy with a “lasting” spinal injury, for which he has paid for regular physiotherapy. He also suffered a chest injury and bruising to his lungs.
Forward, from Pittenweem, Fife, produced negative results for alcohol and drugs and police concluded there were no defects in his vehicle prior to the crash.
He was fitted with metal rods and pins after suffering two breaks to his right femur. He also sustained a broken sternum and a broken tibia.
Defence solicitor Jim Caird said: “He has suffered tremendous guilt and anxiety for causing so much injury, pain and stress to [the complainer] and his family.
“He certainly has suffered and fully understands the seriousness of his driving on this particular occasion.”
