A German tourist has been found guilty of causing the death of a driver in the UK by driving on the wrong side of the motorway. Matthias Hunecke, 49, was vacationing with his wife in Scotland when the incident occurred near Invermiston Falls in July 2022. Surveillance footage captured Hunecke driving their rental car onto the opposite side of the A82 road, directly into oncoming traffic, for over 300 meters before colliding with a Ducati motorcycle ridden by Michael Gall, 51, who tragically died at the scene.
During the trial, Hunecke claimed he could not recall driving on the wrong side of the road but admitted to being startled when he realized his error and corrected his lane. Both he and his wife mentioned that the collision occurred shortly after she requested him to move closer to the road’s edge to dispose of an apple core. Hunecke then shifted blame to Mr. Gall for being in the incorrect lane.
Mrs. Hunecke emotionally recounted the events in court, detailing their journey from Amsterdam to Invergordon before the fatal crash on the A82 en route to Rothes. She described a routine conversation before she tossed the apple, leading to the swift unfolding of the tragic accident. Despite Hunecke’s assertions that Mr. Gall was at fault, a jury swiftly convicted him of dangerous driving.
Following the verdict, Judge Bain chastised Hunecke for ending Mr. Gall’s life, emphasizing the motorcyclist’s careful driving habits compared to Hunecke’s reckless actions. Hunecke was remanded in custody pending sentencing on June 19 in Dundee. Mr. Gall’s family expressed relief and satisfaction with the guilty verdict.
