A man has been found guilty of seriously injuring a motorcyclist through careless driving on a Moray road.
Daniel Auernhammer, from Burgheim in the German state of Bavaria, hit motorcyclist Brendan Baker on the A941 between Lossiemouth and Elgin, just south of its junction with Muirton Road, on the night of October 1, 2024.
Auernhammer was sentenced after a three-day trial at Inverness Sheriff Court. Picture: James Mackenzie
A jury at Inverness Sheriff Court unanimously found the 30-year-old guilty of careless driving, which had been reduced from dangerous driving, after a three-day trial.
The trial of the German NATO air force worker saw several witnesses give accounts of the accident, including a learner driver who Auernhammer attempted to overtake when it was unsafe to do so.
The court heard that Auernhammer was travelling away from the RAF Lossiemouth in a van and had gone to overtake the learner, moving into the northbound carriageway, when he collided with Mr Baker, who was travelling in the correct direction on the northbound lane.
Despite taking evasive action, Auernhammer collided with the motorcyclist who was left with serious and long-lasting injuries.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Mr Baker, who had been a “confident yet cautious” motorcyclist, was left with no recollection of the events.
He was rushed to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin by ambulance before being taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment.
Auernhammer accepted that he had been on the wrong side of the road and did not see the motorcycle’s light until moments before the accident.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank disqualified Auernhammer from driving and holding a license for 12 months. He was fined £2500.
The sheriff said: “I have no doubt of the trauma experienced for all involved.
“The fine relfects the offence of careless driving, not the consequences of it.
“There are different degrees of careless driving and this is up to the middle, higher-end.”
Defending, Brent Lockie said: “He wants to make restitution and he has a lot of remorse.”