Court / Car crash caused ‘life changing injuries’, court hears
A YOUNG man from Sandwick who caused “horrific” and “life changing” injuries to a friend by driving dangerously and eventually crashing his car into a crash barrier near Quarff will be sentenced early next year.
Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday morning how Shyran Batziris picked up his passenger from the Laxo ferry terminal in the early evening of 10 January and then drove at excessive speeds, resulting in the car repeatedly losing traction with the road until it struck a crash barrier and overturned.
The 20-year-old with an address of Houlland Lea, Sandwick, pleaded guilty to the charge of dangerous driving.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court his passenger sustained serious injuries to both his legs and had to cut free from the wreckage of the car by the fire and rescue service.
The injured man was stabilised at the scene of the accident, then taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital and transferred to Aberdeen the following day.
The fiscal described how surgeons worked for 12 hours to repair the damage to both legs.
“There were pieces of bone missing and shards of glass were imbedded in the soft tissue,” he said.
He described the injuries sustained as “very serious and potentially life changing” and added that the injured man still experiences pain almost 11 months after the accident and has not returned to full-time work.
He still suffers from regular flashbacks and nightmares and is to receive professional counselling.
Defence solicitor David Nicolson said he would speak in mitigation of his client once reports have been prepared and asked for bail to continue.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank asked for a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty assessment to be prepared.
He said he would comment further when Batziris appears for sentencing on 17 January.
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