Drink driver sentenced after crash with police car on A9

Shafeer Rishad has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service and is disqualified from driving for 20 months.

Image of the police car which was damaged earlier this year
Author: Liam RossPublished 23rd Mar 2023

A man has been sentenced today after crashing into a stationary police vehicle in the Highlands.

Shafeer Rishad collided into the car on the night of January 26th on the A9 between Newtonmore and Dalwhinnie.

No officers were in the car at the time of the crash, as they were assisting with the recovery of another vehicle from an unconnected incident.

Rishad, 25, was given 200 hours of community service and disqualified from driving for 20 months at Inverness Sheriff Court today, after pleading guilty to drink driving.

"Consequences could have been far worse" - Police Scotland

Police Scotland say they're thankful no one was injured.

Inspector Donnie Mackinnon, of the Highland and Islands Road Policing Unit, said: "This incident highlights the dangers of drink-driving and how it adversely affects a driver’s decision making, awareness and cognitive ability.

"We are thankful that no-one was injured as a result.

"The consequences could have been far worse, not only for those directly involved but for their families and friends, so I appeal to road users to make safe and sensible decisions, one of which is never drive after consuming alcohol or drugs, because it can be life changing."

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