Driver killed man in rush to McDonald’s
AN ‘AMBER gambler’ killed an Army veteran at a pedestrian crossing as he rushed to McDonald’s at 60mph during a 15-minute break from college.
Daniel Rowson, from Ormskirk, was doing twice the speed limit as he ran a red light before hitting Peter Douglas, 72, in Liverpool city centre.
Witnesses said the collision threw Mr Douglas “up in the air like a rag doll”, but the 21-year-old then tried to blame his victim.
Jailing Rowson for four years, Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, said: “The death of Peter Douglas is your responsibility and you will have that on your conscience for the rest of your life.”
The plumbing student tried to beat traffic lights in King Edward Street during a 15-minute break on September 15, 2015.
Rowson, of Tower Hill, Ormskirk, approached the junction with Leeds Street, Old Hall Street and Great Howard Street at around 10.40am.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Mr Douglas was “in the confines of the pedestrian crossing” and other cars had stopped at the lights.
Gerald Baxter, prosecuting, said Rowson failed to see his victim or brake and his Seat Leon hit the OAP at around 55mph.
Witnesses could not agree on whether the lights had been on red for 30 seconds or having just turned red. Rowson claimed they were amber.
Mr Baxter said: “He was deliberately driving through a red light or failing to make any attempt to stop or reduce speed when the light changed to amber and then red.
“He failed to see Mr Douglas on or near the pedestrian crossing before it was too late.”
An off-duty doctor and a paramedic tried to save Mr Douglas, who suffered multiple blunt force injuries.
Rowson told a police officer at the scene: “I was driving and a guy stepped out into the road. I was doing 40. I didn’t go through a red light.”
Mr Baxter said: “In his interviews he did minimise his own responsibility. Even towards the end of the second interview he sought to blame Mr Douglas himself.”
Rowson was set to stand trial, but later admitted causing death by dangerous driving – a plea Judge Flewitt said “could and should” have been entered earlier.
Oliver Cook, defending, said Rowson’s “immaturity” was behind the “ill-thought out and certainly ill-judged” comments he made to police.
He said: “He tried to beat the lights. He put his foot on the accelerator.
“He had not at the time of the offence appreciated how fast the vehicle was travelling.”
Mr Cook said Rowson had suffered from nightmares and depression and was “deeply remorseful”, which the judge accepted.
Judge Flewitt said it did not matter how long the lights were on red, because they previously turned to amber.
He said: “That should have been a warning to you to reduce your speed.
“Your sole focus was to beat the lights and in your haste you simply did not see Mr Douglas.
“You did not brake so you hit him at considerable speed, throwing him in the air like a rag doll.
“He will be missed by all those who knew and cared about him.”
Judge Flewitt also banned Rowson from the road for five years.