Pensioner struck worker while trying to overtake bin lorry on narrow road

STV News

4 hours ago

A pensioner struck an on duty bin man with his car while trying to overtake a refuse vehicle.
Robert Ralston, 74, struck the 55-year-old in Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, on November 8, 2023.
Ralston hit the refuse collector while he tried to overtake the bin lorry on a narrow road.
The victim claimed that he was 'dragged' by Ralston's blue Seat car which made him 'feel sick'.
Fortunately, the man escaped with soft tissue damage.
First offender Ralston was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to causing injury by dangerous driving.
The court heard from the victim, who was doing his rounds at the back of the bin lorry on Wellshot Drive.
He stated that Ralston's car came within six feet of the back of the bin lorry which he deemed unsafe.
The man spoke to Ralston and told him to keep his distance from the lorry.
The victim told the court that Ralston appeared 'agitated'.
CCTV of the incident showed the victim putting a bin onto the lorry to be lifted before he stepped to the side of the road.
The footage then displayed Ralston driving to the side of the road, striking the worker then passing the lorry.
The victim said: 'It felt like something dragged me round.
'I felt it on the lower part of my arm.'
Prosecutor Eilidh Macdonald asked the man what happened after that and he replied: 'I was disorientated – I realised I was struck by the car.
'I jumped up and ran after the vehicle hoping that it would stop and to ask why he did it.'
Ms Macdonald asked: 'Were you able to speak to the driver?'
The man replied: 'No.'
Ms Macdonald asked: 'How did you feel?'
The man replied: 'I was sick – I felt sick.'
The hearing was told the man attended hospital and was x-rayed but was found to have suffered soft tissue damage.
Robert Sheridan, defending, suggested that his client had waited for six to 12 bins to be emptied before he moved off.
The victim replied: 'No, it wasn't as much as that.'
The lawyer also put to the witness that he put bins he emptied to the side of the road to stop his client from moving.
The man again denied the accusation.
He further refuted being told that Ralston had to take his daughter to the train station and wanted to pass by him.
Mr Sheridan added: 'I put to you that he did say that and you told him that he was not getting passed.'
The man replied: 'No, at that point it was not safe to do so.'
Sheriff Mary Shields told Ralston when convicting him: 'I have no doubt that your standard of driving fell far below the acceptable standard.'
Ralston, of Jackton, Lanarkshire – who had been driving for 52 years with no points on his licence – was fined £420 and disqualified for 12 months.
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