Court / Driver fined after power line accident

A MAN was fined at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday over an accident involving an overhead power line which caused thousands of properties across Shetland to lose electricity last year.

The incident happened on 13 July after a scrap handler on the back of an articulated lorry cut through the cable next to Lerwick’s power station, near to the Gremista Brae roundabout.

Driver Keith Adamson, of Cunningsburgh, admitted at the court to using the lorry with an unsafe load due to the position of the crane arm which was not suitably covered, creating a danger of injury.

Procurator fiscal Keith Adam said the 47-year-old was heading north at around 9.40am when the crane arm cut and severed the cable, with a vehicle behind having to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

Defence agent Gregor Kelly told the court that his client had just picked up the scrap handler from the ferry during his work and was unaware of a safety feature that would have cut the extending arm as he had not been given instructions.

He added that it was fortunate there was “no serious long-term consequences” of the incident.

Kelly said it had a “major impact” on Adamson’s life as he ended up leaving his job.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank fined Adamson £300 and gave him three penalty points.