Surgeon allowed to walk free after killing teacher in head-on car crash
A RETIRED surgeon whose ‘inattentive’ driving caused a head-on crash that killed a teacher has been spared prison. Alexander McAuslan’s Land Rover Discovery was seen ‘drifting across’ into the oncoming lane before crashing into Rodica Pamphilon’s Ford Fiesta.
The 46-year-old died after suffering head and chest injuries in the smash on August 5, 2016. McAuslan, 65, was originally charged with causing death by driving dangerously and falling asleep on the A68 near Fordel Mains, Midlothian.
But the consultant orthopaedic surgeon admitted the lesser offence of causing death by careless driving and the allegation he had fallen asleep was dropped.
Yesterday, McAuslan was ordered to carry out 275 hours of unpaid work and was banned from driving for three years and nine months.
A previous hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh heard his vehicle collided head-on with the Fiesta, causing ‘catastrophic’ damage.
McAuslan of Dalkeith, Midlothian, suffered head, chest and leg injuries.
Sentencing McAuslan at the High Court in Livingston yesterday, judge Lord Burns
‘You’ll live with consequences’
said: ‘The inattention that caused this tragic accident lasted only a few seconds.
‘You’ll have to live with the consequences of ending another person’s life.
‘Nothing you can do can bring comfort to Mrs Pamphilon’s family.’
Romanian-born Mrs Pamphilon, of Ormiston, East Lothian, held dual citizenship after moving to the UK and later worked as a teacher, interpreter and translator.
Members of her family declined to comment.
Earlier they paid tribute to a ‘loving and gentle woman who was loved by so many’.
Outside court, McAuslan said: ‘It was the most awful accident. You spend your life tending people who’ve been in accidents.
‘You try to save people and you think you’ve done well.’