Reckless drug driver killed motorcyclist
A cocaine-fuelled driver who drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway in Blantyre killed a 24-year-old biker on his way to work, a court was told.
At the High Court in Glasgow, William Mclean admitted causing the death of student Allan Nicholson on the A725 East Kilbride Expressway, Blantyre, on November 10, last year.
The court heard that 35-year-old dad-of-two Mclean, of Cathkin, who admitted snorting five lines of cocaine five hours before getting behind the wheel, drove at excessive speed and repeatedly drove into the path of oncoming vehicles.
Prior to the fatal accident at around 6.40am, five drivers had to take evasive action to avoid a crash.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC said: “Mr Nicolson was studying civil engineering and worked part-time as a sales assistant with Sainsbury’s in Great Western Road, Glasgow.
“At 6.30am he left his girlfriend’s home to travel to work. Mr Hutchison overtook a bus on the dual carriageway and the accused’s white Ford Mondeo collided head-on with his Suzuki motorcycle.
“Due to the impact Mr Nicholson was thrown from the motorcycle, landing on the carriageway as the motorbike burst into flames.”
Despite the efforts of passing paramedics Allan died at the scene.
The accused’s car came to rest on the grass verge and he got out and said to motorists who had stopped to help: “What have I done?’
He then ran across the southbound carriageway and tried to climb a wall. People gave chase and held him until police arrived.
Officers asked who the driver of the Mondeo was and Mclean told them: “It was myself.”
Mr Prentice added: “The accused told police that he had taken five lines of cocaine about five hours before the collision. Mr Mclean’s ability to drive was impaired by his ingestion of cocaine.”
The court was shown video footage of the lead up to the crash taken from cars and a bus’s dashcams.
Mr Prentice said: “This footage includes an image from a distance of the collision.”
During the showing of the footage some members of Allan’s family left the court in tears.
Defence QC Tony Graham said: “I am instructed to publicly apologise to the family and friends of Mr Nicholson.
“Mr Mclean’s actions that night caused the destruction of a life. But for these actions, Mr Nicholson would be enjoying his life today.”
Mr Graham asked for bail to be continued for Mclean saying: “I am asking this for one reason. His fiveyear-old daughter will start school next week. That is a milestone in her life and he would like to be there.”
Judge Lord Brodie granted Mclean bail, but told him: “The offence to which you pled can only be dealt with properly with the imposition of a custodial sentence.”
He deferred sentence on Mclean until August Edinburgh.
The court heard that Mclean, who was driving on the wrong side of the road, repeatedly drove into the path of oncoming vehicles, from Motherwell Road in Bellshill to the A725 East Kilbride Expressway at Blantyre near to the Raith Interchange. 27 at the High Court in
Mclean, who has two children, was working as a warehouse manager at the time.
He had a clean driving licence and one previous conviction from November 2010 for failing to wear a seat belt and was fined £90.
Mclean was banned from driving in the meantime.