A ROSYTH motorist tried to drive off after colliding with a fuel tanker but did not get very far.

Ross McCluskey’s car was badly damaged after the collision with the HGV but he attempted to depart the scene.

The incident resulted in McCluskey, 28, of Ramsay Place, appearing in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

He admitted that on May 25, at Admiralty Road, Rosyth, being the driver of a car involved in an accident, he failed to stop and give his name and details of his vehicle.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said two tankers were travelling in convoy to Grangemouth when the collision occurred.

“At around 7.50am, as one of the tankers came to the junction of Admiralty Road and Castle Road, the driver felt an impact to the offside of his HGV.

“When he looked, he saw a small red car had struck his vehicle.”

When the two tanker drivers got out of their trucks, a man they believed to be a passenger in the car approached them and apologised.

However, the car driver then headed off without giving his details and the police were informed.

“It was thought, given the badly-damaged condition of the car, it would not be able to go far. Police found it parked behind a hedge in Kings Road about 500 metres from the scene of the collision,” added the depute.

By shortly after 9am, police had traced McCluskey to his home and he identified himself as the car driver.

Sheriff Richard McFarlane commented: “There clearly was a significant impact given the damage to the car.” He fined McCluskey £350 and endorsed his licence with five penalty points.