A TEENAGER crashed a stolen car at the Bankton roundabout, leaving his two passengers trapped in the vehicle with serious injuries.

Conlon Carr lost control of the BMW 116i after colliding with a bus at the junction, near to Tranent.

Both of Carr’s passengers had to be cut from the wreckage by firefighters and all three occupants had to be taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment to various injuries, including a broken pelvis, damaged spleen and severe bruising.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that the white BMW had been taken from the homeowner’s driveway after he had left to go on holiday.

Police were notified that the vehicle had been stolen about 10 days later, on November 20 last year.

Fiscal depute Ann McNeill said that a driver of a Fiat Punto followed the stolen car after they had collided on the Gladsmuir to Longniddry road at about 12.20pm on the day that the car was reported stolen.

Ms McNeill said: “[The Punto driver] said the BMW had struck the back of his car and he got out of his car. The BMW made off at speed towards Longniddry and he got back into his vehicle and began to follow the BMW.

“Around 12.27pm, the police received numerous phone calls from the public about the BMW driving erratically and in a dangerous manner and at excessive speeds.

“As the BMW approached the Bankton junction, the BMW driver lost control and struck a bus head on.”

The fiscal added that the bus driver got out of his vehicle and noticed both airbags had gone off in the BMW and there were two passengers.

Carr, 19, was able to free himself from the wreckage but both passengers had to be cut out by the fire service using specialist equipment.

The court was told during last Thursday’s hearing that the passengers in the stolen car were Carr’s brother and his girlfriend and that he had told police: “I blacked out and woke up in hospital.”

Ms McNeill said that Carr suffered bruising to his ribs and lung, his brother Alexander had a broken pelvis and the woman involved required surgery for a broken pelvis and damaged spleen.

The court was also told that Carr, who appeared from custody, did not have a driving licence or any insurance at the time of the crash.

Solicitor David Allan, defending, said that he was reserving his mitigation for the sentencing diet.

Sheriff Norman McFadyen deferred sentence on Carr to March 23 for reports.

Carr pleaded guilty to causing serious injury to Erynne Gallagher and Alexander Carr by driving at speed, driving erratically and in a dangerous manner and at excessive speed, and colliding with a vehicle and a bus at Bankton junction on November 20 last year.

He also admitted to resetting the vehicle which had been appropriated by theft, driving the car with no valid licence and no insurance.

All of the offences were aggravated by Carr having been granted bail at the Capital court on July 21 last year.