Teen hurt in hospital crash drama

A PROMISING young golfer is nursing a broken ankle and damaged knee after a Dumfries road accident which has sparked a police enquiry.

Officers are currently hunting the driver of a vehicle which pulled out of Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary (DGRI) onto Bankend Road in front of 17-year-old Darren Brown, causing him to crash his scooter.

Bricklaying student Darren said: “It was on Friday at about 4 pm. We got out early from college and I was heading home down the road.

“I saw the car sitting at the junction in front of me, and the driver just started pulling -- but I realised there wasn’t going to be enough room for her to come out.”

Slamming on the breaks, he added: “The front wheel slipped on a drain and the bike went away from me and I went flying over the handlebars and sliding along the ground.”

Amazingly, the woman drove away from the scene, leaving Darren a crumpled heap on the ground.

A friend came to his aid, along with two nearby members of staff from DGRI -- one of whom insisted he needed treatment at accident and emergency.

And the broken ankle is compounded by a badly bruised knee with potential ligament damage, dealing a blow to the up-and-coming golfer’s hopes of playing in a key tournament.

Darren said: “I’ve got a big five-day competition in Aberdeen in April. It’s the Scottish Boys Matchplay.

“If I’m not fit enough to play then I’m going to have to miss out, and I’ve been working really hard for more than a year to get my handicap down to five to be able to play.”

Darren has paid tribute to the strangers who helped him, and hit out at the driver of what is described as being a grey or blue coloured Honda Civic or Toyota Prius-type car.

Police are appealing for information relating to the incident, which can be submitted to police on 0845 600 5701 or any police officer.



NEWSDESK: 01461-202417

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