A SCOTTISH chief constable will appear in court later this month charged in connection with a road traffic accident.
Norma Graham, Scotland's first female chief constable, was injured in February after her Audi Quattro was involved in a collision with a Renault Clio near Fife police headquarters in Glenrothes.
The 49-year-old was taken to hospital, where insiders say she was one of two people cautioned, before being discharged hours later.
A Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court spokeswoman said Graham had been charged under section three of the Road Traffic Act and would appear at court on June 19.
Section three of the act refers to instances of careless and inconsiderate driving.
It is thought to be the first time a serving chief constable in Scotland has been summoned to appear at court as an accused.
Graham, who announced in April she will retire in the summer, joined the police in 1981 and is married to a former sergeant.
She headed up the drug squad for Lothian and Borders Police and was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 2008.
After announcing her retirement, two months after the accident, Graham, who became chief constable in 2008, said it had been an "honour" to serve the area.
Fife police denied her retirement had anything to do with the accident or legal proceedings.
A spokesman said at the time: "Police officers normally retire after 30 years. Her length of service is over 30 years, she started as a cadet.
"I think you'll find she won't be the only one retiring, because of the change to a single service. We can categorically say it is not related."
Fife police officers investigated the incident on a 90-degree left-hand bend on the B922 Cluny-Kinglassie road.
Both cars were badly damaged in the accident.
A witness to the aftermath of the crash said both women were lucky not to have been seriously hurt.
The man, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's hard to tell what happened in the crash.
"There's a big tree there and there have been fatal crashes at the spot as drivers have misjudged the corner.
"When I arrived there were a couple of fire engines clearing everything up and the two drivers had been whisked off to hospital.
"Both cars had been pretty badly damaged and were leaking a lot of fluids on the road.
"I'm amazed the drivers weren't more seriously injured. They were very lucky."
Police at the scene carried out a fingertip search for Graham's mobile phone, which contained sensitive numbers and contacts.
It was found elsewhere later in the day.
Graham's case was reported to the Crown Office four months ago.
A spokeswoman for Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court confirmed Mrs Graham had been charged under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act, and added: "She is due to appear in court on June 19."
The Crown Office later released a statement saying: "We can confirm that the procurator-fiscal has received a report concerning a 49-year-old woman in connection with an incident on February 7, 2012.
"The report remains under the consideration of the procurator-fiscal."
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