An 89-year-old motorist has been sentenced after a woman suffered life-altering injuries when struck by her vehicle outside a convenience store in the Scottish Borders. The incident, which occurred at approximately 10:40 a.m. outside the Co-op in Coldstream, resulted in the victim requiring amputation of her right leg above the knee. According to BBC News, Christine Thomson pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving and received a 40-month driving ban and £750 fine.
Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard that Thomson, of Main Street in Leitholm, was attempting to park her Volkswagen Golf when the vehicle collided with a woman loading shopping into another car. The impact pinned the victim between both vehicles and also knocked a second woman to the ground. Sheriff Robert Fife acknowledged during sentencing that no penalty could adequately compensate the injured woman for the permanent loss of her limb, and he imposed an additional £40 victim surcharge alongside the driving disqualification.
How did the accident occur?
Thomson's defence lawyer, Ross Dow, explained that the collision resulted from a momentary loss of control during wet weather conditions. According to local reporting, Thomson told police she was "terribly sorry" and indicated that the wet ground may have caused her foot to slip from the brake pedal to the accelerator. Dow noted that his client had maintained a clean driving record for 69 years prior to this incident and had voluntarily surrendered her licence to the DVLA within two weeks of the accident, demonstrating no intention to drive again.
What injuries did the victims sustain?
The woman pinned between the two vehicles sustained an open fracture to both her right fibula and tibia. She was initially taken to Borders General Hospital before being transferred to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where surgeons performed the amputation of her right leg above the knee. Prosecutor Joanne Waller told the court that while the injuries posed no immediate threat to the victim's life, the consequences were profoundly "life-changing." The second woman struck by the vehicle suffered soft tissue damage and was discharged from hospital without requiring further treatment.
What was the legal outcome?
Thomson appeared in court on 23 November last year and entered a guilty plea to the charge of causing serious injury by careless driving. Sheriff Fife remarked that it was "unfortunate" Thomson had not returned her driving licence to authorities before the court proceedings. The 89-year-old was sentenced in her absence due to personal circumstances, though her defence lawyer conveyed that she was deeply distressed by the consequences of her actions. The sentence comprised the 40-month driving ban, the £750 fine, and the £40 victim surcharge.
What happens next?
According to available reports, the injured woman is pursuing compensation through the civil courts. No hearing date or settlement outcome has been announced at this stage, and the claim remains ongoing as the victim navigates the long-term consequences of her amputation and rehabilitation.
