Recovery driver faces jail after woman’s death
Cameras show he was checking his mobile phone
A recovery driver killed a woman becauser he was too busy checking his mobile phone.
David Shields, of Drongan, crashed into Yvonne Blackman’s car in a line of traffic on the A75 in Dumfries in February 2017.
The 66- year- old missionary worker never recovered and died weeks later in hospital.
Damning footage later found from Shields’ truck captured him focusing on his phone for a full 18 seconds in the lead- up to the fatal smash.
The 34- year- old is now facing a lengthy jail- term after appearing at the High Court in Glasgow last week.
Shields – who had a previous conviction for speeding – pled guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
He was remanded in custody pending sentencing next month.
Yvonne, of Lockerbie, was on her way to meet friends to carry out missionary work when tragedy struck.
The mum- of- four ended up getting caught in heavy traffic on the A75 Gretna to Stranraer road around 8.30am on February 8 last year.
Shields meantime was driving in the area while working for 911 Rescue Recovery.
He met the same line of traffic – before ploughing into the back of Yvonne’s Toyota Yaris.
Prosecutor Liam Ewing said: “Witnesses noted that the lorry did not appear to break until a short distance before the collision, at which time it skidded or snaked.”
Yvonne’s car hit a BMW in front before spinning to a halt.
The pensioner was discovered unconscious – as Shields got out his truck and was found “sobbing” at the side of the road.
Mr Ewing: “He stated he had left Stoke and was driving to Kilmarnock. He did not say what caused the collision.”
Yvonne was rushed to hospital. She had a serious spinal injury and multiple rib fractures.
The court was told she died on February 23.
The cause of death was chest and spinal injuries due to the crash.
Shields was later quizzed by police.
He initially claimed he had noticed “at the last second” that the “traffic was not moving”.
Shields went on: “There were no brake or hazard lights on the vehicle in front.
“I slammed the brakes on, slid and collided.”
Crash investigators later stated Shields had a potential distance of 256 metres to stop his vehicle and avoid the smash
This was deemed “sufficient” to spot any car ahead.
But, study of the seven cameras in his truck’s cab showed his “attention had been on a dashmounted mobile telephone”
Mr Ewing said: “An analysis established he had been focusing on the phone... therefore failing to maintain proper observations of the road ahead.
“( This was) for a period of 18 seconds prior to reacting to the presence of the car.”
The footage was shown in court. Shields appeared to break down in the dock as it was played.
He is seen driving while checking the phone before his cab shudders as it hits Yvonne’s car.
It is not known what he was doing on the mobile at the time.
Part of the charge Shields pled guilty to stated he did “repeatedly interact with and focus your attention” on a phone.
His QC John Scullion said: “He accepts full responsibility for the death and bitterly regrets driving as he did.”
Lady Stacey banned him from the road meantime as sentencing was deferred for reports.