A driver is facing a potential jail sentence after admitting to a crash that left a cyclist lying face down in a roadside ditch for at least 25 minutes with life-changing injuries. Rebecca Tyndall, 68, pleaded guilty at Falkirk Sheriff Court to causing serious injury by careless driving following the nighttime collision on a rural road.
The incident occurred on a right-hand bend on the B8075, known as Kirk Lane, near Blairdrummond in Stirlingshire. Both Tyndall, a resident of East Lothian, and the victim, Douglas Flynn, then 62, were heading north towards the A84 trunk road. Accident investigators established that Tyndall’s VW Tiguan struck Mr Flynn’s bicycle straight on from behind, launching the cyclist into the air.
Severe Life-Changing Injuries Sustained
Mr Flynn, an experienced Stirling cyclist, suffered a devastating array of injuries that required extensive hospital treatment and multiple surgeries. Court proceedings revealed that he sustained:
- A bleed on the brain and a skull fracture
- Extensive facial fractures, including a broken eye socket
- A fractured spine and a collapsed lung
- Extensive rib fractures and a severe leg fracture
- A surgical procedure involving the insertion of six pins in his right femur and a full-length metal rod
Three years after the collision, Mr Flynn continues to suffer from long-term complications. These include poor vision in one eye, total loss of sensation in one shoulder, and the permanent inability to participate in running or hillwalking.
How the Aftermath Unfolded
Prosecutor Jennifer Bairner told the court that no apparent reason for the collision could be ascertained. Investigators found no pre- or post-impact tyre marks indicating emergency braking. Despite the darkness, Mr Flynn was fully equipped with high-visibility gear, including a reflective silver jacket, reflective shoe protectors, a white-and-red helmet, and functioning front and rear bicycle lights.
Following the impact, Tyndall lost control of her vehicle, crashing through a fence and hedge into a field. A local farmer and another passing motorist noticed headlights in the field around 6:10 PM on November 22, 2023, and stopped to investigate. They found Tyndall inside her car with her two dogs, and she informed them she was unsure what had happened.
Police officers arrived at the scene around 6:35 PM. While speaking with Tyndall in a nearby farmyard, an officer walked back to inspect where the Tiguan had left the road. It was then that the officer discovered Mr Flynn lying unconscious in the grassy verge below road level, suffering from a severe open head wound.
Legal Proceedings and Immediate Ban
Tyndall tested negative for alcohol and drugs. She told police officers during interviews that she knew the road well, was not speeding, and insisted, “I saw no cyclist.” Court records listed her address as the Bowerhouse, a historic 19th-century Jacobethan mansion located south of Dunbar in East Lothian.
Sheriff Craig Harris deferred sentencing until December 1 and continued Tyndall’s bail while ordering an immediate driving disqualification. The final length of the ban will be determined at sentencing. The offense of causing serious injury by careless driving carries a maximum statutory penalty of two years in custody.
Broader Traffic Disruption in East Lothian
The case has highlighted ongoing road safety concerns across the region. The incident coincided with separate infrastructure pressures in East Lothian, including major rush-hour disruptions caused by an incident on the A1 near Wallyford on October 7. Local authorities and community groups continue to urge heightened vigilance from motorists navigating rural routes and national trunk roads alike.
