A NURSE ended up as a patient in hospital after causing a head-on car crash in Dunfermline.

Louisa Rooney, from Dunfermline. became distracted by an orange in the footwell of her car and took her eyes off the road.

She then lost control of her vehicle and collided with another car travelling in the opposite direction.

Louisa Rooney, 46, of Haig Crescent, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

She admitted that on November 28, in Dunlin Drive, she drove a car carelessly and without consideration for other road users by failing to maintain a proper look-out, drove on the opposing carriageway and collided with another vehicle.

Depute fiscal Jade Doig said Rooney was travelling west in Braemar Gardens when she turned left into Dunlin Drive and crossed into the opposite lane, resulting in the head-on crash.

She later told police: “There was something in my footwell. I think it was an orange. I tried to brake but I couldn’t because it was under the pedal.”

Defence solicitor James Moncrieff said his client is a mother-of-two and works as a nurse in Livingston.

“She thinks there was an orange under the brake pedal and her attention was focused on trying to dislodge it. She did not have her eyes on the road in front of her.

“The next thing she remembers is waking up in the hospital. She was in for two days as a result of her injuries.

“She knows what she should have done is to drive to the side of the road and this wouldn’t have happened.”

Sheriff Derek Reekie fined Rooney £400 and endorsed her licence with five penalty points.