HGV driver was on video call moments before horror crash where Scots OAP, 88, died
FATAL SMASH HGV driver was on video call moments before horror crash where Scots OAP, 88, died
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AN HGV driver was on a video call moments before his lorry collided head-on with a car, which led to an 88-year-old woman losing her life, a court heard.
Blair Jardine, 31, caused Sarah Wood's death after his truck struck a car being driven by the pensioner's niece, Lyndsay Thomson.
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The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the tragic crash happened on June 4 last year
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The crash happened on the A70 Edinburgh to Ayr road
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The High Court in Edinburgh heard on Friday how the collision took place on the A70 Edinburgh to Ayr road on June 4, 2024, close to Ochiltree, East Ayrshire.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC said the incident took place at an unclassified junction at Killoch Collery.
Mr Prentice said the speed limit for HGVs was 40 miles per hour.
However, investigators established Jardine was driving at 56 mph.
Describing the moments leading up to the incident, Mr Prentice said: 'Ahead of him was a white van which had stopped and was signalling to turn right into a depot. There was a stationary car behind the van.
'Blair Jardine was on a hands-free video call with another person, and he did not pay attention to the road ahead.
'Consequently, he failed to react to the presence of the stationary vehicle, braked sharply, causing the wheels to lock and he was unable to stop in time to avoid a collision with the stationery west bound traffic so he swerved into the opposing carriageway causing a head on collision with Lyndsay Thomson's motor vehicle.
'Lyndsay Thomson and Sarah Wood were both severely injured. Sarah later died because of the injuries she sustained.'
The story emerged after Jardine, of Crosshill, South Ayrshire, pleaded guilty to causing death and severe injury by dangerous driving.
Mr Prentice said that following the collision, police and fire and rescue personnel rushed to the scene - they cut both Sarah and Lyndsay from the wreckage of the younger woman's MG ZS vehicle.
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Both were taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for emergency treatment.
The court heard that, meanwhile, police detained Jardine at the scene.
Mr Prentice added: 'Blair Jardine identified himself as the driver of the vehicle.
"Blair Jardine also freely stated to the police officers that he had been using his mobile telephone on speaker at the time of the collision.
'Later enquiry revealed he had been on a video call with another person and that the screens were blank.'
The events of June 4 2024, are evidently a tragedy to all of those who were affected by them
Judge Lady Haldane
Officers at the scene also saw several locked wheel tyre marks on the road.
Mr Prentice said this demonstrated that Jardine 'applied emergency braking' and steered into the opposing lane.
Mr Prentice said friends and family called Sarah Sadie - she was a widow, a mum of two and a retired retail manager.
The advocate depute that doctors treating Sarah found she had 'extensive injury' including fractures to her nose, a rib, a lumbar vertebra and both hands.
The court heard that on June 5 2024, Sarah had surgery and suffered a stroke after she came out of the theatre.
He is deeply remorseful
Defence advocate Emma Toner
Mr Prentice said that on June 7 2024 she was transferred to the major trauma unit at the hospital but continued to 'deteriorate rapidly' - she later died at 7.15pm on June 10 2024.
Meanwhile, Lyndsay, who was aged 59 at the time of the collision, suffered a head injury, rib, knee, leg and wrist fractures and a broken hip.
Mr Prentice added: 'She has had multiple orthopaedic plastic surgery interventions since then.
'She was discharged on October 15 2024, having spent four months in hospital following the collision. She is continuing with rehabilitation.'
Defence advocate Emma Toner said she'd reserve her mitigation for a future hearing and said the court was legally obliged to call for a report into her client's background as he was a first offender.
The seriousness of these offences is such that a custodial sentence is inevitable
Judge Lady Haldane
Ms Toner added: 'He is deeply remorseful.'
The advocate also asked for her client to be given bail.
However, Judge Lady Haldane remanded Jardine in custody.
She added: 'The events of June 4 2024, are evidently a tragedy to all of those who were affected by them.
'The seriousness of these offences is such that a custodial sentence is inevitable.'
'The severity of these offences is such that the appropriate way to proceed is to remand you in custody.'
Jardine will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on August 1 2025.
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