The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
OAP could face jail over fatality
Driver tried to cover up car damage after cyclist’s death
An elderly Dundee driver who tried to cover up his involvement in a fatal accident has been warned he could face a prison sentence.
Ian Mcfarlane, 76, right, knocked cyclist Scott Walker from his bike on a Fife road and then had work carried out on his car to repair the damage.
But debris at the scene where Mr Walker, 43, from St Monans, suffered lethal head injuries, was eventually traced by police to Mcfarlane’s Vauxhall Astra. Dundee Sheriff Court heard officers could not say whether the driver of the car had been aware they had struck the cyclist at the time of the accident, on the A917 Elie to St Monans road, in July 2019. But it was later discovered Mcfarlane had told garage staff carrying out the repairs that the damage had been his fault. Mcfarlane pleaded guilty to various offences, including failing to stop after the accident and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Deferring sentence for reports, Sheriff Gregor Murray told him: “You have never been sentenced to a period of imprisonment – that’s a distinct possibility.”
Ahit-and-run pensioner is facing jail for trying to hide damage to his car after killing a cyclist on a Fife road.
Ian Mcfarlane, 76, drove off after striking 43-yearold Scott Walker on the A917 Elie to St Monans road on July 8, 2019.
Mr Walker later died in Ninewells Hospital after suffering “catastrophic” head injuries.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard how uninsured Mcfarlane later drove to his estranged wife’s home and made no mention of the crash.
He later had work carried out to his Vauxhall Astra to cover up the damage.
A sheriff warned the pensioner he could face a prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to failing to stop after the accident and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The court was told how Mr Walker, of St Monans, was struck just before 7.40pm on the night in question.
Fiscal depute Lora Apostolova revealed how multiple witnesses desperately fought to assist him.
She said: “Witnesses in their home heard a sound associated with a collision. They saw a male lying on the ground on his side.
“One of the witnesses knew the male to be Scott Walker.
“A piece of a wing mirror at the scene was thrown to the side by one of the witnesses.”
Mcfarlane, of Dundee, was described as acting “normally” and did not mention the collision after arriving at his wife’s home.
An investigation was launched by police after Mr Walker died.
They admitted at the time there was no way of knowing whether the driver had been aware they had struck Mr Walker.
Detective Chief Inspector John Anderson from Fife CID said at the time: “My appeal is to the driver of this vehicle – please search your conscience and contact officers so that we can establish the full circumstances surrounding how Mr Walker came to sustain his injuries that ultimately cost him his life.
“An accident this may well have been. However, the longer this goes on without you contacting the police of your own accord then the more difficult it is to understand your actions afterwards”
Investigators determined the wing mirror belonged to a Vauxhall Astra, produced between 2005 and 2009.
Door-to-door inquiries led police to Mcfarlane’s wife who said she had no knowledge of the incident.
She informed him of their visit and Mcfarlane said he was unaware of the collision.
Several attempts by police to trace Mcfarlane at his home on Muirton Road were unsuccessful.
A search warrant was later granted and officers seized car documentation and slips containing details of various car garages.
It was revealed Mcfarlane had visited the Arnold Clark dealership on Dock Street and Arnotts garage on Brown Street for repair work.
Ms Apostolova said: “On July 17, police traced the accused at St Andrews bus station. The accused confirmed he had been driving and said the car was in the garage.
“In response to being cautioned and charged, he replied ‘I was going to hand myself in tomorrow after I picked up my car’.”
Mcfarlane had planned on having the car painted, as well as having scrapes and dents fixed.
He did not mention to garage staff why the repairs were required but said he would be paying for it himself because it was his fault.
The court heard how Mcfarlane took the damaged wing mirror home with him.
After being arrested, he gave a no comment interview to police.
Mcfarlane also admitted instructing repair work on the car between July 8 and 17, 2019, as well as driving without insurance.
Sheriff Gregor Murray told Mcfarlane: “As I am sure you are aware, you have pleaded guilty to serious charges.
“You have never been sentenced to a period of imprisonment – that’s a distinct possibility in this case.”
Sentence was deferred until May and Mcfarlane’s bail order was allowed to continue.