Nurse admits causing fatal collision
A Dundee nurse has admitted causing the death of cyclist in a head-on collision as she tried to overtake a lorry.
Jessica Hedley tried to save David Christie by giving him first aid at the side of the road following the crash on the A92 near Freuchie in Fife.
She initially denied causing Mr Christie's death by careless driving, but pled guilty on the second day of her trial.
Hedley, 25, will be sentenced at Dundee Sheriff Court on 5 September.
A trial heard that Mr Christie, who was 49, was riding a bike equipped with a light and was wearing a high-visibilty yellow tabard when the crash occurred.
Hedley had been trying to overtake a truck at about 04:30 on February 21 last year when she hit Mr Christie, who was travelling home to Ladybank after going to an all-night garage in Freuchie.
Crash investigators found he had been two feet from the kerb on the correct side of the road at the point of impact, with Hedley's Vauxhall Corsa fully in the opposing carriageway.
A jury heard that when paramedics arrived shortly after the smash they found Hedley giving Mr Christie first aid.
He was taken to Victoria Infirmary in Kirkcaldy where he was found to have multiple fractures throughout his body as well as "substantial" bleeding on the brain.
Mr Christie's condition never improved and he died five days later.
When police arrived, Hedley admitted she had been behind the wheel and said: "I was driving along and I went to overtake, I think it was a lorry.
"I pulled out and the cyclist had one of those flashing lights.
"I saw it too late and I hit him."
Hedley admitted driving her Vauxhall Corsa without due care or attention and overtaking a lorry when it was unsafe to do so.
She failed to observe Mr Christie riding his bike on the opposing carriageway, causing the car and bike to collide whereby Mr Christie was so severely injured that he later died.
Defence solicitor Ross Donnelly said: "She has not driven since this incident.
"She would extend her sympathies to the family of Mr Christie."
Sheriff Alastair Brown deferred sentence for social work reports and released Hedley on bail.
He said: "This is a case which should be dealt with by a community order, probably an order for unpaid work.
"This case has involved bad judgement and falling short of the standard required, mitigated by the accused's previous good character and the fact she stopped, phoned for help and did all that she could by way of first aid."
Hedley was disqualified from driving ahead of sentencing.