A TEENAGER sustained severe head injuries and was left fighting for his life in a horrific crash in West Fife.

He was one of two passengers injured seriously in a two-car collision near High Valleyfield.

The driver of the car they were in, 18-year-old Louise Barton, caused the collision by pulling out of a junction into the path of an oncoming car.

Barton, of Brandy Riggs, Cairneyhill, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, where she submitted a guilty plea.

She admitted that on September 13, on the A985 at the junction with Clinkum Bank, she drove a car carelessly, failed to maintain proper observations of the carriageway and failed to give way adequately.

She exited the junction into the path of a car resulting in the extensive damage of both vehicles and the severe injury of a female passenger and also the severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment of a male passenger.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said Barton had three passengers in her car at the time of the accident which occurred at around 9.25pm.

Barton pulled out of the junction into the path of a car travelling at 55mph.

The 18-year-old male passenger was taken by ambulance under police escort to the Victoria Hospital.

He had sustained severe head injuries including a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain. He also suffered a fractured pelvis and was placed in an induced coma.

His family were told he was unlikely to survive but he recovered. However, he was left with life-changing injuries, added the depute.

A female passenger suffered a fractured shoulder and punctured lung. The driver of the other car was not injured.

The accused was also badly injured, sustaining a perforated bowel.

The court was told Barton is a Highland dancer with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and had not been able to take part in an event in Australia because of her injuries. She is now starting a nursing degree course in Kirkcaldy.

Sheriff Alastair Brown said: “There is nothing I can do to undo the damage that was done in the accident.”

He told Barton: “It’s quite clear it was a moment’s very bad judgement. You may care to consider getting a bit more training as a driver.

“It was bad judgement but you have much to offer to society.”

He fined Barton £400 and endorsed her licence with five penalty points.