Road ban for 'suicidal' motorist

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A drunk woman who crashed into two police cars and a wall during a suicidal high-speed chase has been banned from driving for 30 months.

Perth Sheriff Court was told Christina Cameron, 45, from Crieff, had decided to take her own life by driving dangerously on the A85 on 6 March.

When spotted by Tayside Police, a 15-mile chase ensued along the Lochearnhead to Crieff road.

Cameron was also fined £900 and ordered to resit her driving test.

Fiscal depute Lucy Keane described how the accused repeatedly drove on the wrong side of the road on bends and blind summits.

She added: "Going through Comrie village she was driving at 50 miles per hour. She passed a primary school at it was closing for the afternoon. Clearly, others were put at risk and it is only down to good fortune that no-one else was injured. That was in the lap of the Gods Alison McKayDefence agent

"She left the village and went over a hump-backed bridge on the wrong side of the road.

"There were temporary traffic controls being operated by workmen but she simply drove through these without slowing down."

After crashing into two police cars then coming to a halt, Cameron refused to get out of her car when ordered to by police.

Ms Keane said officers tried to drag her out of the car but Cameron reversed, struck a police van then drove off.

Finally she lost control of her partner's mobility Ford Focus and crashed into a wall and a parked Nissan Navara before finally coming to rest.

Minor cuts

Despite trying to commit suicide, she sustained only minor cuts and bruises.

Solicitor Alison McKay, defending, told the court that her client had been depressed at the time of the incident and had decided to end her life.

She added: "She is aware the court will consider this to be an atrocious piece of driving. She only has a vague recollection of the day.

"She admits her intention was to kill herself. In hindsight she put not just herself, but other people, in danger.

"Clearly, others were put at risk and it is only down to good fortune that no-one else was injured. That was in the lap of the Gods."

Cameron admitted driving dangerously on the A85, at excessive speed and on the wrong side of the road and failing to provide a specimen of breath.

She also admitted mounting kerbs and verges, failing to stop for police officers, and damaging two police cars and another vehicle by colliding with them.