A motorist who caused grave injuries to cyclists after crashing into their formation during a club ride has been disqualified from driving.

Melissa McKelligott, aged 44, failed to heed a Give Way sign and collided with several members of a squad of eight cyclists out for a ride with the Dundee Wheelers club. The impact injured three cyclists while inflicting serious damage on two, with one having to undergo a hip replacement operation.

An unfortunate cyclist relayed her experience of being hurled through the air, which caused severe injuries resulting in her withdrawal from the Scottish Championship the following week. It was relayed to Perth Sheriff Court that McKelligott was so disconcerted by the devastation that she couldn’t bear to look at her victims.

McKelligott, who was operating on a temporary American licence in Scotland, was banned for 93 weeks and assigned to fulfil 225 hours of unpaid community work. She confessed to driving irresponsibly, leading to the harming of three cyclists near Rait in the Carse of Gowrie on July 27 of the year prior. In particular, she was responsible for causing grave injuries to Brian Barr, aged 54, and Helen Wall, aged 29.

The court learned that the cyclists, on a ride in the Perthshire countryside, were part of a larger group when the accident took place. Fiscal depute Sam Craib elaborated that McKelligott’s black Mini Cooper powered through a Give Way sign junction, thereby colliding with the cyclists. In her shock and alarm, she exited her vehicle, sat by the road verge, unwilling and unable to witness the carnage she had wreaked.

Members of the biking group confirmed her wellbeing before hearing her confess, “There’s a Give Way sign – why didn’t I stop, why didn’t I stop?” Emergency services, including an air ambulance, arrived promptly. Mr Barr and Ms Wall were stabilised on site before being hurried to Ninewells Hospital located in Glasgow.

Mr Barr endured a broken hip, which required a replacement surgery. He underwent physiotherapy until December 2022. His hip has, to date, recovered 75 per cent, expected to be the best possible outcome. He suffers from hip pain and had a partially collapsed lung, four broken ribs, and various cuts and bruises. Ms Wall experienced two fractures to her lumbar spine and had a shoulder injury compounded by severe chest and rib pain. Additionally, a third cyclist, Robert Mills, showed bruised knees, cuts along his side, and experienced neck pain,” informed Craib.

Ms Wall’s recovery period spanned over 18 months. She is anticipated to endure symptoms at a nuisance level throughout her life. Defence solicitor Pauline Cullerton clarified that McKelligott, a native of Warrington Crescent, Edinburgh, had a US permit which authorised her to drive in the UK starting April 2022 and spanning 12 months.

Cullerton stated, “She hasn’t driven since the incident,” further noting, “She admits her failure to stop at the Give Way sign. She caught a glimpse of the cyclists in the corner of her eye and performed an emergency stop, which resulted in her vehicle’s collision with the cyclists.”

Sheriff Mark Thorley remarked on the gravity of the matter, observing, “The consequences were quite serious. Two people were grievously injured, and neither has made a full recovery.”

The court was informed how Ms Wall was “catapulted” through the air and her subsequent scream as she crash-landed. Mr Barr was dragged across the ground, while Mr Mills hit his face on the defendant’s car door, and McKelligott’s car ended up on a nearby grass verge.

Mr Barr, a Dundee native described the collision saying, “As we got to that junction, I saw this car coming out of the corner of my eye. I just knew by its speed that it was not stopping. I tried to veer left. I was at an angle when I crashed into the vehicle and got carried as it sped through the junction and across the road.”

The car eventually stopped, which is when he found himself thrown off the bonnet of the vehicle. Unluckily, upon landing, he suffered another painful impact.

Ms Wall, a resident of Invergowrie, shared her experience: “I was thrown several metres in the direction the car was travelling – when I hit the ground, I landed on my seat, next hit my left shoulder and the back of my head.” She went on to describe the terrible consequences of the accident, which forced her to withdraw from the Scottish Championship – an “horrendous timing”.

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