The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Driver jailed for collision that killed mum-of-three
Devastated family describe Balmullo woman’s death as ‘tragic’
The heartbroken family of a mother killed in a Fife car crash have described her death as “tragic”.
Van driver Andrew Reilly was yesterday jailed for four years for causing the head-on collision that claimed the life of Audrey Thom.
The 58-year-old mother-of-three passed away following the incident on the A914 in November 2015, just miles from her Balmullo home.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that 27-year-old Reilly made no attempt to brake or avoid the car being driven by Mrs Thom’s daughter Louise, with Michael O’Grady QC describing his actions as “foolhardy and irresponsible”.
A statement released on behalf of Mrs Thom’s family, said: “This was a tragic incident which shows all too starkly the consequences of irresponsible driving on our roads.”
A van driver who caused the death of a mother-of-three after overtaking approaching a blind crest was jailed for four years as a judge spoke of his despair that court warnings will ever be listened to by young men.
Andrew Reilly made no attempt to brake or steer to avoid the head-on collision with a car in which Audrey Thom was a passenger.
The driver of the car, Mrs Thom’s daughter Louise, was confronted with Reilly’s van heading directly at her on her side of the road.
Advocate depute Adrian Cottam said: “Louise Thom was unable to take evasive action as there were trees on the left-hand side of the road and another vehicle in the carriageway on the right.”
The prosecutor told the High Court in Edinburgh: “As she stated, she had in effect ‘nowhere to go’.”
The car driver had just enough time to brake hard but the crash still occurred on the A914 Balmullo to Dairsie roundabout road in Fife.
Emergency services took Miss Thom, 27, and her 58-year-old mother to hospital but the older woman’s condition worsened and she later died.
Mr Cottam said police investigating the collision concluded that Reilly had made a decision to carry out a late overtaking manoeuvre as he approached and got to solid white lines on the road and drove on to the opposite side of the road.
The prosecutor said they also concluded: “For an unknown reason he did not see, or ignored, the warning arrows and the solid white lines prohibiting from overtaking.”
They also reached the view that Reilly either did not see or did not react to the sight of Miss Thom’s headlights until it was too late to avoid the collision.
Judge Michael O’Grady QC told Reilly: “This court has emphasised time and again that driving of this sort is so obviously dangerous and foolhardy and irresponsible. It has time and again warned young men of the consequences for others and indeed them; and yet I sometimes despair that that message will ever be heeded.”
The judge added: “I should also stress that the sentence I impose does not, nor could it, in some way put a value on Mrs Thom’s life. Such things are beyond value and cannot be reflected in any meaningful way.”
He told Reilly that he would have faced a sentence of five and a half years in jail, but for his guilty plea. Reilly was also disqualified from driving for eight years and ordered to resit a test.
Reilly, 29, of Palais Court, Dundee, earlier admitted causing the death of Mrs Thom by driving the van dangerously on November 24 2015.
The court heard that the plumbing and heating engineer had previous convictions for driving without insurance and speeding.
Defence counsel Matt Jackson said the father of two was aware that the consequences of his actions have had “a horrible impact on so many other people”.
Mr Jackson said: “While there are previous convictions for road traffic offences, I do suggest that otherwise he has been a lawful member of society.
“He is very, very sorry for what he has done.
He understands that the consequences of his criminality, because that is what it is, have had a terrible effect upon so many others.
“In particular I am instructed by him to offer his direct apologies to the Thom family.”