Woman to sue police after acquiring "personality disorder"

A WOMAN who has been left with a "changed personality" following a road crash is suing police over the accident, it emerged today.

Rachel Rosie suffered head injuries and a broken collarbone when her car collided with a lorry in Lerwick, Shetland, in August 2006.

She claims a hidden Northern Constabulary patrol car caused the crash because it blocked an exit route and prevented the truck from clearing the main road.

The 37-year-old, from Scalloway in Shetland, was overtaking a van as the lorry turned left off the road, but the van swerved out of the lorry's path.

The mother-of-three braked, veered to the left and hit the back of the lorry.

She spent seven weeks being treated in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and another month in the Gilbert Bain hospital in Shetland.

Papers lodged with Lerwick Sheriff Court allege the accident has caused "change in personality, an inability to concentrate, a lack of initiative and inappropriate emotional responses".

Her husband Steve Rosie, 42, said his wife was "lucky to be alive" but the crash had had a "horrendous effect" on her life.

He said: "Rachel suffered severe injuries including a head injury. She is still forgetful and has unusual emotional responses because of the head injury.

"She cannot move her right eye up or down due to a nerve palsy.

"She has had physio and other outpatient treatment but even with the excellent treatment she has had this has had a horrendous effect upon Rachel's life and career.

"We have had a huge amount of help and support from the medical staff in Aberdeen and here in Shetland. Our family and friends have been a great support."

The case is scheduled to call at the court for a procedural hearing in October.

Mrs Rosie's lawyer, Malcolm Mackay of Balfour and Manson in Aberdeen, said: "Liability and the case value remains in dispute.

"It is alleged that the accident was caused due to the position of the police vehicle which Rachel claims blocked an exit route.

"The sheriff recently ruled that the case ought to be heard in Lerwick Sheriff Court. It would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage."

A Northern Constabulary spokesman said it would be inappropriate to comment while the case was ongoing.