Drink-driving university student found dead in jail
A STUDENT who ran down a schoolboy while over the drink-drive limit then fled in her car has been found dead in prison, it was confirmed last night.
Katie Allan, who was 20 at the time of the accident, died on Monday at Polmont Prison near Falkirk.
The Glasgow University student was jailed for 16 months in February for two charges resulting from an incident in Eastwoodmains Road in Giffnock, Renfrewshire, on August 10 last year.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard that a local 15-year-old schoolboy was out jogging around 9pm when he was stuck by a Ford Fiesta.
The impact was so severe the car’s bumper was torn off as the car sped away. The victim was left unconscious, with blood seeping from a head wound.
He had been preparing to sit his Higher examinations but suffered a broken ankle and a fractured eye socket. He had to take two weeks off school and was forced to get around on crutches.
Allan was quickly traced thanks to eye witnesses who made a note of her registration plate.
Her family and young friends were last night said to be ‘devastated’ by her death. She was due to be released in October.
In court, the university geography student pleaded guilty to two charges, causing serious injury by driving dangerously and driving while more than four times the legal alcohol limit.
Allan was said to be ‘upset and distressed’ when confronted by police. She put her hands out so she could be handcuffed and repeatedly asked officers if the person she hit was OK.
Allan, of Muirend, Glasgow, had four pints of cider before she tried to drive home from a pub.
Prosecutor Pamela Brady told the court ‘a number of witnesses’ saw Allan driving ‘somewhat erratically’ before she struck the boy. She added: ‘[He] had no idea of the car’s approach. The bumper came off the car at the point of impact and the car then drove forward and left.
‘Witnesses then approached him and he was seen lying on the pave- ment unconscious, bleeding from his face and head.’
A test showed Allan had 87 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath – four times the limit.
Mrs Brady added that the teenager had been ‘put off running’ by the incident, which she said had a ‘significant impact’ on him.
In court, defence solicitor Amy Spencer said Allan was ‘truly sorry’ and asked for leniency.
She said: ‘I’m asking your lordship to take a step back from custody so her decision to drive that night will not define her.’
Jailing her for 16 months, Sheriff David Pender said there was only one appropriate sentence.
A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said yesterday: ‘We can confirm Katie Allan passed away at Polmont.’
A fatal accident inquiry will be held in due course.
‘Upset and distressed’